Electronically connected environment

ABSTRACT

Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for an electronically connected environment, such as implemented in connection with one or more computing and/or communication networks, devices, and/or protocols, for example.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/921,887,filed Jul. 6, 2020, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.15/656,520, filed Jul. 21, 2017, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/367,028, filed Dec. 1, 2016, U.S. Pat. No. 10,517,056,issued Dec. 24, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/262,843, filed Dec. 3, 2015, which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic environments and,more particularly, to electronic communications, such as withinelectronic environments.

2. Information

Electronic environments continue to evolve. Electronic communicationsare becoming commonplace and had improved our organizational lives,ability to access information, knowledge sharing, or the like. Continuedadvancements in information technology, mobile applications, or the likehelp to contribute to a rapidly growing market for electronic devices,which may already be viewed as “extensions of the hand” altering themanner in which society communicates, does business, or creates value.For example, with the advent of electronic and/or mobile technologies,such as in the form of smart telephones, tablet personal computers(PCs), remote or wireless sensors, or the like barriers between a“virtual” and “physical” presence have begun to dissolve, and fasttechnological adaptation of electronic environments had become essentialto strategic competence and advancement for many organizations. Yet, inmany sectors, such as corporate, transportation, assisted living, or thelike, technological arrangements, organizational architectures, etc. ofassociated operating environments are in a catch-up mode. For example,at times, there may be a disconnect between various aspects, such asoperating platforms and/or processes within a particular operatingenvironment, which may negatively affect overall performance,communication, etc., increase or introduce complexities, or the like.Greater flexibility and/or variety of approaches for communicativelyinteroperating various technologies and/or technological aspects, suchas via one or more electronically connected environments, for example,may, therefore, be desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Claimed subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctlyclaimed in the concluding portion of the specification. However, both asto organization and/or method of operation, together with objects,features, and/or advantages thereof, it may best be understood byreference to the following detailed description if read with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating features associated with animplementation of an example electronically connected environment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation of anexample post position.

FIG. 3 is an implementation of an example representation of a userinterface.

FIG. 4 illustrates implementations of example graphs for customizablereports.

FIG. 5 illustrates example non-nodes viewable via a camera node.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an implementation of an exampleprocess for an electronically connected environment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation of anexample computing environment.

Reference is made in the following detailed description to accompanyingdrawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals may designatelike parts throughout that are corresponding and/or analogous. It willbe appreciated that the figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale, such as for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration. Forexample, dimensions of some aspects may be exaggerated relative toothers. Further, it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized. Furthermore, structural and/or other changes may be madewithout departing from claimed subject matter. References throughoutthis specification to “claimed subject matter” refer to subject matterintended to be covered by one or more claims, or any portion thereof,and are not necessarily intended to refer to a complete claim set, to aparticular combination of claim sets (e.g., method claims, apparatusclaims, etc.), or to a particular claim. It should also be noted thatdirections and/or references, for example, such as up, down, top,bottom, and so on, may be used to facilitate discussion of drawings andare not intended to restrict application of claimed subject matter.Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken tolimit claimed subject matter and/or equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References throughout this specification to one implementation, animplementation, one embodiment, an embodiment, and/or the like meansthat a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the likedescribed in relation to a particular implementation and/or embodimentis included in at least one implementation and/or embodiment of claimedsubject matter. Thus, appearances of such phrases, for example, invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarilyintended to refer to the same implementation and/or embodiment or to anyone particular implementation and/or embodiment. Furthermore, it is tobe understood that particular features, structures, characteristics,and/or the like described are capable of being combined in various waysin one or more implementations and/or embodiments and, therefore, arewithin intended claim scope. In general, of course, as has always beenthe case for the specification of a patent application, these and otherissues have a potential to vary in a particular context of usage. Inother words, throughout the disclosure, particular context ofdescription and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding reasonableinferences to be drawn; however, likewise. “in this context” in generalwithout further qualification refers at least to the context of thepresent patent application.

Some example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture aredisclosed herein that may be used, in whole or in part, to facilitateand/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for anelectronically connected environment, such as implemented in connectionwith one or more computing and/or communication networks, devices,and/or protocols discussed herein, for example. As alluded topreviously, in some instances, an electronically connected environmentmay be implemented, at least in part, to communicatively interoperate anumber of technological arrangements and/or aspects that may typicallybe employed as separate and/or independent solutions. For example,within a retail environment, such as a retail store, as one possibleexample, certain aspects, such as computing platforms, processes, etc.may comprise and/or be implemented as separate and/or independentsolutions so as to address inventory maintenance, access control, powermanagement, etc., managerial processes, such as staff training, lossprevention, day-to-day operation, etc., or the like. As another possibleexample, certain aspects, processes, etc. within an assisted livingenvironment, such as, for example, to address regulatory compliance,treatment plans, prescription or like access control, progressreporting, security, etc. may be technically and/or communicatively“disjointed,” such as implemented via separate and/or independentsolutions.

By way of yet another example, in a consumer electronics sector,products like smart telephones, tablet personal computers, personalnavigation devices, etc. may change quickly, with today's latest modelbecoming yesterday's model sold at a lower price. At times, to encouragesales, a retail store may, for example, employ a practice of productplacement, also called “slotting,” such as by displaying certainproducts in a preferred physical place or spot within a retail display,shelf, table, countertop, showroom, etc. A typical retail display,table, countertop, etc. thus may, for example, have a number of physicaldisplay or post positions, such as assigned and/or corresponding toparticular products that are offered for sale. Particular examples ofdisplay positions will be discussed in greater detail below. Today,service providers, vendors, etc. selling products are willing to pay apremium for preferred product placement, in retail or otherwise. Thishas given rise to competition over specific display locations withservice providers, vendors, etc. negotiating fee or other agreements tocompensate entities, such as retailers, for example, for giving serviceproviders, vendors, etc. a preferred location in a retail display,table, countertop, etc. over competitors. As such, with certaintechnology becoming outdated relatively quickly, such as consumerelectronics mentioned above, as one possible example, yesterday's modelis expected by service providers, vendors, etc. to be promptly moved bya retailer to a physical post position on a retail display that may beregarded as less prime, thus, leaving a more desirable position for anewer model.

Similarly, with retailers carrying a larger number of continuallychanging and/or rotating items, a service provider, vendor, etc. mayexpect these items to be timely restocked, such as for continualin-store presence and/or display in a preferred physical place, such asa display hook, shelf, etc., for example. As such, for vendors who pay apremium for preferred product placement, a retailer's continualrotation, restocking, etc. of a wide variety of products may, forexample, create concerns, such as over whether the retailer ismaintaining a sufficient inventory, placing a correct product in acorrect spot, or the like. By way of yet another example, such as in thecontext of an assisted living environment, in order to obtain and/ormaintain certification status, for example, regulatory compliance orother entities (e.g., insurance companies, etc.) may expect careproviders to assess and/or report on staff training and/or delegation,treatment and/or service plans, medication access and/or administrationprocesses, or the like. Likewise, here, for regulatory or otherentities, such as those providing liability or like insurance forassisted living facilities, a number of insufficiencies, such as, forexample, with respect to whether staff is properly trained, delegationis properly supervised, medication is properly stored, stocked,accessed, distributed, etc., or the like may create concerns.

In some instances, to address these or like issues, it may be useful,such as for vendors, retailers, care providers, insurers, or likeentities of interest to ensure that, for example, products are properlystocked, displayed, rotated, etc., correct medicine is properlyaccessed, administered, etc., or the like. As was indicated, at times,however, various technologies and/or technological aspects, if at all,within these or like environments may be non-existent and/or relativelydisjointed, such as in the form of communicative interoperability, forexample, which may negatively affect overall performance, communication,etc., may increase or introduce complexities, affect revenue, etc., orthe like. For example, at times, it may be rather difficult, such ascostly, burdensome, inefficient, etc. to determine whether a number ofparticular products have been displayed at intended (e.g., preferred,etc.) locations and/or spots, whether a particular item has beensufficiently rotated and/or restocked, whether a particular medicationhas been properly accessed and/or administered, or the like.Accordingly, it may be desirable to develop one or more methods,systems, and/or apparatuses that may implement an electronicallyconnected environment, such as to facilitate and/or supportcommunicative interoperability of various technologies and/ortechnological aspects, arrangements, processes, etc., for example.

Thus, as will be described in greater detail below, an electronicallyconnected environment may, for example, be implemented and/or used, atleast in part, to facilitate and/or support electronic communicationswith one or more entities regarding one or more nodes on a network, suchas to provide and/or improve interoperability of various associatedtechnologies and/or technological aspects, arrangements, processes, orthe like. At times, these or like electronic communications may, forexample, occur through use of a digital identity of one or more nodes,which may be used, in whole or in part, to collect, use, communicate,etc. statistical environment-related information, audit a particularnode and/or associated environment, implement access control, allow foroff-site monitoring, or the like. Particular examples of nodes,entities, digital identities, electronic communications, etc. will alsobe described in greater detail below.

As will be seen, an electronically connected environment may, forexample, be implemented in the context of any suitable operatingenvironment, or a combination thereof, such as a retail environment,assisted living environment, health care environment, etc. Toillustrate, in the context of a retail environment, as one possibleexample, an electronically connected environment may provide for anumber of electronically addressable physical points or like elements,such as corresponding to a number of nodes positioned on a retaildisplay, wall, shelf, store, etc. and capable of being controlled from aparticular (e.g., central, etc.) interface, as one possibleimplementation. In some instances, nodes may, for example, be used, atleast in part, to communicate environment-related information, such asreport on a node status, system health, associated device operation, orthe like, in real time or otherwise, as will also be seen. At times,environment-related information may include, for example, statisticalinformation, such as a number of times an associated device, such as asmart telephone, for example, has been picked up or lifted by a customerfrom a display position, whether or not a device is charging, etc.,whether a node is functioning, operational, etc., whether securityalarms are functioning, whether a node is locked or unlocked, whether acorrect device is at a correct display position, or the like. Again,claimed subject matter is not limited to a particular environment,environment-related information, etc.

In some instances, a node may, for example, be capable of functioning asa router or like device, where it may be able to identify signal trafficspecific to the node, but may be a transparent pass-through node tounrelated signal traffic, such as signal traffic not be specific to thenode, intended for a different node, device, entity, etc., just toillustrate one possible implementation. At times, a node may, forexample, be capable of functioning as an access point or like device,which may be implemented, at least in part, via, for example, leveragingexisting hardware and/or software (e.g., Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, etc.) of anassociated wireless device, if applicable, such as a smart telephone,though, again, claimed subject matter is not so limited. Thus, as alsodiscussed below, in some instances, a node may comprise, for example, awireless node having a wireless transmission and/or reception capability(e.g., via adequate circuitry, processing resources, etc.), such as forobtaining, collecting, processing, communicating, etc.environment-related information via properly routing signal traffic toother nodes, devices, entities, etc. and/or receiving signal trafficfrom other nodes, devices, entities, etc. (for implementing issuedinstructions or commands, etc.). For example, in some instances, a nodemay be capable of functioning as a repeater, such as to route wirelesstraffic so as to effectively extend the size and/or coverage of anassociated network. At times, a node may, for example, be capable offunctioning as a point providing a limited and/or unlimited access forone or more devices (e.g., cellular telephones, etc.) and/or nodes toone or more networks, such as a network associated with anelectronically connected environment, the Internet, an intranet, or anyother suitable network, or any combination of these or like networks.For example, at times, a wireless node may be capable of providing alimited and/or controlled access to the Internet, just to illustrate onepossible implementation. In some instances, a wireless node may, forexample, be capable of providing a limited and/or controlled access forone or more authenticated devices (e.g., customers' mobile devices,etc.) to a suitable database (e.g., associated with an electronicallyconnected environment, etc.), such as for the purposes of accessing,communicating, etc. applicable information (e.g., via a push, pull, etc.signal transfer, etc.).

As also described below, nodes within an electronically connectedenvironment may, for example, be implemented for a variety of usesand/or purposes. For example, in some instances, a node may comprise,for example, a lock node that may be set up at a position of an accessdoor, cabinet, etc. to provide access, such as via locking and/orunlocking the door, cabinet, etc. in connection with appropriateauthentication, authorization, or like processes. At times, a lock nodemay, for example, provide status information, such as whether aparticular door, cabinet, etc. is currently locked or unlocked, etc.,statistics, such as a number of times a particular door, cabinet, etc.has been locked and/or unlocked, etc., identifying information, such aswho accessed a particular door, cabinet, etc., access time, etc., or thelike. In some instances, a node may also be used, at least in part, toimplement and/or improve communicative interoperability with respect toother areas of automation within an environment, such as, for example,alternating current (AC) or like power outlets, power strips, audiovideo (AV) controls, or the like.

At times, a node may comprise, for example, a camera node, such asimplemented via an addressable camera or like imaging devicecommunicatively interoperated with a particular node, device, entity,etc. within an electronically connected environment, thus, capable ofproviding imaging capability. In some instances, a camera node may, forexample, allow for visual auditing of a particular environment to beperformed, such as from an off-site and/or remote location, if desired.In some instances, a camera node may, for example, be implemented tomonitor specific physical spaces, areas, etc. that may be occupied byproducts that may not be a “node.” As a way of illustration, a cameranode may, for example, image a good, such as a labeled bottle or someother product that is supposed to be at a specific spot within a retailshelf, display, wall, stand, etc., such as to confirm that a retailer ismerchandizing the product correctly, restocking the product in a timelymanner, or the like. At times, a node may, for example, comprise and/orbe associated with a particular device (e.g., smart telephone, etc.),good, sensor, etc. and may facilitate and/or support node-relatedcommunications, such as in a similar fashion and/or as discussed herein.

In some instances, nodes within an electronically connected environmentmay not have a particular hierarchy, such as one node over another, forexample, meaning that one or more individual nodes may be added and/orremoved without impacting overall functioning of the environment, aswill also be seen. As such, a node may, for example, be inserted into aparticular environment as a programmable and/or configurable physicalpoint or like element at different times, if desired, and may be used,at least in part, to electronically provide and/or implementcomputer-readable instructions (e.g., issued instructions or commands,etc.) and/or acquire suitable environment-related information. Forexample, nodes may be added to and/or subtracted from an electronicallyconnected environment at suitable times, system or other updates may beperiodically or suitably loaded to a programmable and/or configurablephysical point or like element (e.g., automatically, etc.), such as totake into account one or more changing functions and/or new functionsthat may be added at one or more future points in time. Claimed subjectmatter is not so limited, of course. For example, at times, anelectronically connected environment may, for example, be implementedvia nodes comprising any suitable hierarchy, such as a tree-likehierarchy, as one possible example, meaning that one or more nodes maybe lower in a hierarchy to comprise so-called “children” nodes, and oneor more nodes may be higher in a hierarchy to comprise so-called“parent” nodes, just to illustrate another possible implementation.Again, any other suitable hierarchy and/or arrangement may beimplemented herein, in whole or in part.

As will also be seen, at times, one or more communications ofcommunicating electronically may, for example, be aggregated and/orchanneled via a suitable computing device and/or platform, such as awireless transceiver, just to illustrate one possible implementation,that may act as a center point of these or like electroniccommunications within a particular environment. A wireless transceivermay, for example, be capable of communicating with one or more nodes,devices, entities, etc., such as to allow for a global view, accesscontrol, and/or inquiry, among other aspects, into a number of retailenvironments comprising and/or associated with an electronicallyconnected environment. In some instances, a wireless transceiver may,for example, be capable of communicating with one or more nodes,devices, entities, etc., such as to allow for a local view, accesscontrol, and/or inquiry into a particular retail environment comprisingand/or associated with an electronically connected environment. Attimes, environment-related information may, for example, be obtainedand/or stored, such as via one or more activity logs, for example, forthe purposes of audits, loss prevention, training, reporting, or thelike.

With this in mind, attention is drawn to FIG. 1 , which is a schematicdiagram illustrating features associated with an implementation of anexample electronically connected environment 100 that may be utilized,in whole or in part, to address one or more issues discussed above, forexample, or like issues. As described herein, environment 100 may beimplemented via one or more special purpose computing apparatuses,information communication devices, information storage devices,computer-readable media, applications and/or instructions, variouselectrical and/or electronic circuitry, components, input and/or outputsignals, or the like. It should be appreciated that environment 100 isdescribed herein as a non-limiting example that may be implemented, inwhole or in part, in the context of one or more electroniccommunications networks or combination of such networks, such as publicnetworks (e.g., the Internet, the World Wide Web), private networks(e.g., intranets), WWAN, wireless local area networks (WLAN, etc.), orthe like. Claimed subject matter is not so limited, of course. Forexample, in some instances, one or more devices, entities, computingplatforms, etc. may, for example, be capable of communicating with oneor more other devices, entities, computing platforms, etc. directly,such as without an electronic communications network. It should also benoted that claimed subject matter is not limited to a particularenvironment shown. Thus, even though example electronically connectedenvironment 100 is shown in the context of a retail consumer electronicsenvironment, such as for ease of discussion, environment 100 may, forexample, be implemented, in whole or in part, in the context of anyother suitable environment or a combination thereof, such astransportation, assisted living, health care, etc. In addition, itshould also be noted that claimed subject matter is not limited tocommunications, communications networks, etc. designated for indoorimplementations, such as a retail store. For example, at times, one ormore operations and/or techniques described herein may be performed, atleast in part, in an outdoor environment, or any combination of anindoor and outdoor environment.

Thus, as illustrated, in an implementation, electronically connectedenvironment 100 may comprise, for example, one or more wireless nodes,such as referenced generally as a Wireless Node 1 at 102, a WirelessNode 2 at 104, a Wireless Node 3 at 106, a Wireless Node 4 at 108, andso forth through a Wireless Node N, referenced at 110. In this context,“wireless node” refers to a computing platform and/or device capable ofcommunicating electronically, such as transmitting and/or receivingsignals via one or more wireless and/or wired communication protocols.As will be seen, depending on an implementation, a wireless node maycomprise and/or be associated with a particular device, feature,fixture, good, service, etc., or any combination thereof, and, as such,may be referenced as, for example, a device node, a hook node, a shelfnode, a display node, a power outlet node, an audio-video (AV)controller node, a camera node, a sensor node, a status indicator node,a docking station node, a goods node, a security node, or the like.Claimed subject matter is not so limited, of course. In general, it maybe understood that a wireless node may be intended to be referenced in aparticular discussion, although in the particular context, the term“node” may be employed for ease of discussion. Particular examples ofwireless nodes and/or related communications will be discussed ingreater detail below.

Thus, in at least one implementation, such as realized in the context ofa consumer electronics environment, which may include a consumerelectronics store, as one possible example, one or more wireless nodesmay comprise and/or be associated with consumer electronic devices, suchas, for example, cellular telephones, smart telephones, tablet PCs,wearable devices, or the like. As was also discussed, in some instances,to improve sales effectiveness, in-store consumer electronic devicesmay, for example, be slotted in a suitable manner, such as displayed ina preferred physical place or spot within a retail display, shelf, tabletop, wall, countertop, etc. For example, at times, in-store consumerelectronic devices may be displayed via a number of post positionswithin a countertop, retail display, etc., though claimed subject matteris not so limited. As a way of illustration, one particular example of apost position that may be employed, at least in part, to display aconsumer electronic device within a retail environment is illustrated inFIG. 2 . As seen, a post position 200 may be slotted in a preferredphysical place or spot, such as within a countertop 202, for example. Attimes, post position 200 may, for example, be slotted according to aso-called store “planogram” (POG), such as to ensure that a retailer ismerchandizing products (e.g., electronic devices, etc.) correctly.Typically, a POG may comprise, for example, a diagram or like schematicillustrating and/or describing placement of particular products within astore, retail display, shelf, countertop, etc., or any combinationthereof. As was indicated, a POG may, for example, be utilized, at leastin part, to maximize products' selling potential, such as via increasingawareness for a brand, space value, etc., improving layout consistency,related product positioning, or the like. POGs are generally known andneed not be described here in greater detail. As illustrated, in thisexample, post position 200 may comprise, for example, a mounting puck204 that may be attached to a base 206 in a suitable manner, which, inturn, may be suitably attached to a countertop mount 208 and/orcountertop 202 via a retractable security tether 210, as one possibleexample. Mounting puck 204 may, for example, serve as a mountingplatform for any suitable consumer electronics device, illustratedherein as a smart telephone 212, as one possible example, such as viautilizing a mounting surface 214, though, again, claimed subject matteris not so limited.

Thus, as was indicated, for this particular example, post position 200,such as along with mounted smart telephone 212, for example, maycomprise a wireless node, such as a device node 216, just to illustrateone possible implementation. As will be seen, device node 216 may, forexample, be capable of communicating electronically with one or moreother nodes, devices, entities, etc. within a particular environment viaan appropriate wireless and/or wired communication protocol. Forexample, depending on an implementation, device node 216 may be capableof communicating electronically via a complete or partial utilization ofUniversal Serial Bus (USB) protocol. Radio-frequency identification(RFID) protocol, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11 protocol, Bluetooth® protocol, custom RF protocol, or thelike, or any combination thereof. Thus, device node 216 may comprise,for example, any suitable circuitry and/or processing resources, such asto facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniquesdiscussed herein. Particular examples of circuitry and/or processingresources associated with a wireless node will be described below.Depending on an implementation, a wireless node, such as device node 216may, for example, be capable of communicating electronically byemploying a communications network or, optionally or alternatively,directly (e.g., peer-to-peer, etc.), or via any combinations thereof. Aswill also be seen, at times, circuitry and/or processing resourcesassociated with a wireless node, such as device node 216 may, forexample, be capable of uniquely identifying an associated device, suchas smart telephone 212, its slotting position within countertop 202 (orother retail display, shelf, etc.), etc., may obtain and/or communicatevarious node-related attributes, or the like. Again, this is merely anexample of a post position that may be employed, at least in part,within a retail environment, such as a retail store, for example, andclaimed subject matter is not so limited.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , example electronically connected environment100 may comprise, for example, any suitable number of wireless nodes,which may depend on an implementation, environment, wireless nodes, etc.In some instances, environment 100 may comprise the same or similartypes of wireless nodes or, optionally or alternatively, may comprisedifferent types of wireless nodes, or any combination thereof. Thus, asseen, at times, environment 100 may comprise, for example, a securitynode (e.g., wireless node 102), a device node (e.g., wireless node 104),a power outlet node (e.g., wireless node 106), an audio-video (AV)controller node (e.g., wireless node 108), a lock node (e.g., wirelessnode 110), and/or one or more other nodes not shown, such as a shelfnode, a display node, a camera node, a sensor node, a status indicatornode, a docking station node, a goods node, etc., if appropriate and/orapplicable.

Briefly, for purposes of explanation which is not to be taken to limitclaimed subject matter, a security node may comprise, for example, awireless node comprising and/or associated with a security device, suchas a consumer electronics (CE) security device or system, as onepossible example. A security node may, for example, be employed, inwhole or in part, to facilitate and/or support security of a deviceand/or node within its environment, obtaining and/or providinginformation from and/or to a device and/or node regarding its status,health, position (e.g., within a display, etc.), operation, identifyinginformation, etc., whether power, applicable data, etc. are delivered toa device and/or node, or the like, or any combination thereof.

A power outlet node may comprise, for example, a wireless node that maybe employed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or support anysuitable power management platform and/or approach, such as via turningon and/or off power to one or more specific power outlets, providingsecurity for devices requiring power and/or alarming in the event theyare removed from a particular place, system, network, etc., obtainingposition, identification, or like information on a device and/or nodebeing powered, providing power to a device and/or node being powered, orthe like, or any combination thereof.

An AV controller node may comprise, for example, a wireless node thatmay be employed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or supportturning on and/or off audio, video or other AV-related signals,providing security for an AV system, obtaining position, identification,health, etc. information from one or more controlled devices and/ornodes, providing power to a controlled device and/or node, or the like,or any combination thereof.

A lock node may comprise, for example, a wireless node that may beemployed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or support providingphysical access, security, etc., such as in the form of a locking device(e.g., mechanical, electromechanical, etc.), as one possible example, toa good (e.g., medicine, etc.), locking and/or unlocking remotely,providing any suitable lock and/or node-related information (e.g.,access times, status, identifications, names, alarms, etc.), or thelike, or any combination thereof.

A shelf node may comprise, for example, a wireless node that may beemployed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or support capturingany suitable information from products being displayed on a shelf orlike structure (e.g., a stand, etc.). Information may include, forexample, inventory-related, product-related, placement-related, etc.information. In some instances, a shelf node may be employed, at leastin part, as a security device for products displayed on a shelf or likestructure.

A display node may comprise, for example, a wireless node that may beemployed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or supportcommunicating, interacting, etc. with a particular display, such as aninteractive display, as one possible example, determining position,health, or other aspects of a display, or the like, or any combinationthereof. At times, a display node may act as a wireless transceiver,such as an access point, for example, facilitate and/or support displaycommunications via an associated node, providing security to a display,etc. or any combination thereof.

A camera node may comprise, for example, a wireless node comprisingand/or associated with a camera or like device with imaging capability.As will be seen, in some instances, a camera node may, for example, beemployed, at least in part, to facilitate and/or support visual auditingof a retail store, display, etc., such as from an off-site location. Attimes, a camera node may, for example, be employed, at least in part, tofacilitate and/or support monitoring specific physical spaces and/orareas, such as a shelve, display, stores, etc. occupied by one or moreproducts that may not comprise a node. For example, in some instances, acamera node may image and/or monitor a labeled bottle (e.g., high-endwine, champagne, etc.) or other products (e.g., luxury perfume, etc.)that are supposed to be at a specific spot within a retail location,such as to confirm that a retailer is slotting the bottle or otherproduct correctly.

A sensor node may comprise, for example, a wireless node that may beemployed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or support providingand/or obtaining any suitable information from an associatedenvironment, such as people counters, motion detectors, sound meters,data input and/or output, triggers (e.g., electromechanical, etc.),access detectors (e.g., door, access tags, etc.), or the like, or anycombination thereof.

A status indicator node may comprise, for example, a wireless node thatmay be employed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or support avariety of notifications, such as notifying employees, customers, etc.that a particular event has occurred, as one possible example. A statusindicator node may, for example, notify a store employee that a customeris in need of service, notify customers that they can be served at acounter, notify a customer, employee, etc. that a particular product isout of stock, or the like, or any combination thereof.

A docking station node may comprise, for example, a wireless node thatmay be employed, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or supportobtaining health, position, identifying, or other information withrespect to a node and/or a device being docked, providing power to anode and/or device being docked, communication with one or more othernodes, devices, etc., or the like, or any combination thereof.

A goods node may comprise, for example, a wireless node comprisingand/or associated with one or more goods, such as one or more products,commodities, materials, etc. that satisfies human wants, providesutility, or the like. A goods node may, for example, be employed, inwhole or in part, to facilitate and/or support goods-relatedcommunication, assessing customer satisfaction to a need, assessingcustomer satisfaction to a service, providing training or other suitablegoods-related information, or the like, or any combination thereof.

Again, these are merely examples relating to wireless nodes, and claimedsubject matter is not limited in this regard. As seen and as referencedvia communication links 112, 114, 116, and/or 118, in some instances,one or more wireless nodes 12, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110 may, forexample, be capable of communicating with one or more other nodes, suchas for the purpose of passing through, routing, obtaining, etc.information, as was indicated.

As also illustrated, in some instances, one or more wireless nodes may,for example, comprise and/or be associated with a node identificationfunction and/or process, referenced generally herein as node identifiersor IDs via respective dashed boxes at 120, 122, 124, 126, and 128. Asseen, at times, these node IDs may comprise a function and/or processdedicated to a particular wireless node, for example, but may or may notbe part of a node (e.g., embedded within a node, etc.). Although notshown, it should also be noted that, in some instances, a particularwireless node may not comprise and/or be associated with a node ID,which may depend on a particular device, node, environment,implementation, etc. By way of example but not limitation, a wirelessnode that may not comprise and/or be associated with a node ID mayinclude a router node acting as a pass-through point so as to extend anetwork size, an inventory node acting as a security point to detectand/or prevent products from leaving a location, a node dependent uponanother node (e.g., in a master-slave configuration, etc.), or the like,or any combination thereof. As was indicated, a node ID may, forexample, be capable of identifying a particular node, associated device,slotting position within a retail display, shelf, etc., locating amobile node, device, etc. within a mobile environment, locating a newnode entering into a network, or the like, or any combination thereof.For example, in some instances, a node identification function and/orprocess may make use, at least in part, of a node's digital identity. Inthis context, “digital identity” refers to one or more attributesrelated to and/or representative of a particular wireless node or acombination of nodes that a computing platform and/or device may use, inwhole or in part, to electronically identify such a node or acombination of nodes. As used herein. “electronic,” “electronically,” orsimilar terms refer to an operation, process, etc. involving physicalmanipulation of physical quantities. Typically, such quantities may takethe form of electrical digital and/or magnetic signals and/or statescapable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, communicated,processed or otherwise manipulated, such as via any suitable circuitryand/or processing resources.

A digital identity may, for example, be assigned to and/or associatedwith a wireless node, or a combination of nodes, via any suitableapproach. For example, at times, a digital identity may be assigned to aparticular electronic device (e.g., smart telephone 212 of FIG. 2 ,etc.) by a product manufacturer (e.g., Apple. Inc., etc.), serviceprovider (e.g., Verizon® Wireless, etc.), global decimal administrator(GDA), etc., and/or may be associated with a corresponding wireless node(e.g., device node 216 of FIG. 2 , etc.), such as by a systemadministrator, retailer, entity, etc. A digital identity may include anysuitable letter, numeral, symbol, image, etc., or any combinationthereof, and may comprise and/or be represented, at least in part, via anumeric, alphabetic, alphanumeric, symbolic, semiotic, etc.representation, such as a number, code, name, symbol, or the like. Thus,as a way of illustration, a digital identity may, for example, compriseand/or be represented, at least in part, via an International MobileSubscriber Identity (IMSI), an Integrated Circuit Card Identity (ICCID),an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Mobile StationIntegrated Services for Digital Network number (MSISDN), a model, atype, a make, a barcode, a universal product code (UPC), a serialnumber, software parameters, hardware parameters, a location, or thelike, or any combination thereof.

In some instances, a digital identity may, for example, be assigned toand/or associated with a wireless node via one or more suitable wiredand/or wireless communications between a particular electronic deviceand a suitable display post having a wireless and/or wired communicationcapability. To illustrate, using an example implementation of devicenode 216 of FIG. 2 , smart telephone 212 may, for example, communicate adigital identity, which may comprise its assigned IMEI or like number,if applicable, to post position 200 via a USB. RFID, RF, or likeprotocol, such as upon being connected to post position 200 via a USBcord, via placing an applicable RFID reader within its field ofoperation, or the like. At times, a digital identity may, for example,be communicated via scanning an applicable barcode, user input, or thelike. Of course, these are merely details to which claimed subjectmatter is not limited. Any other suitable techniques may be employedherein. As will be seen, a digital identity may, for example, be used,in whole or in part, for the purposes of identifying an associatedwireless node in connection with one or more operations and/ortechniques for an electronically connected environment.

As was indicated, in an implementation, a digital identity of a wirelessnode may be used, at least in part, to determine a location of the nodewithin a particular environment, such as a slotting position within aretail display, retail store, shelf, wall, or the like. For example, alocation of a wireless node may be determined, at least in part, viaassociating or linking its digital identity with a pre-defined orprescribed (via a POG, etc.) slotting position within a retail display,shelf, store, etc., though claimed subject matter is not so limited. Alocation of a wireless node may, for example, be determined, at least inpart, in relation to a global coordinate system, local coordinatesystem, or any combination thereof. A global coordinate system maycomprise, for example, a coordinate space mapped according to a globalreference frame, such as Earth-centered coordinates (e.g., latitude,longitude, etc.). A local coordinate system may comprise, for example, acoordinate or other (e.g., logical, etc.) space not mapped according toa global reference frame. As such, a local coordinate system maycomprise, for example, any suitable system capable of facilitatingand/or supporting location determination with respect to a wirelessnode. For example, in some instances, a location of a wireless node maybe determined, at least in part, with reference to a space mappedaccording to a store POG, such as a slotting position within a retaildisplay, shelf, wall, etc. At times, a location of a wireless node maycomprise a point or like element, such as in a physical and/or logicalspace, for example, determined via referencing some other point or likeelement (e.g., Node 2 is located immediately to the right of Node 1,etc.), device (e.g., iPhone® 7 is next to Samsung® Galaxy Note 7, etc.),slotting position (e.g., Node 3 is at display position 5, etc.), or thelike. In some instances, a location of a wireless node may comprise, forexample, a point or like element mapped to a floor plan of a retailstore, just to illustrate another possible implementation. Of course,these are merely examples to which claimed subject matter is notlimited.

Continuing with example electronically connected environment 100 of FIG.1 , in some instances, an identification function and/or process, suchas discussed above, for example, may not be dedicated to a particularnode, or a combination of nodes, but may comprise, for example, aseparate or stand-alone identification entity, as referenced at 130. Attimes, identification entity 130 may, for example, be implemented via afunction and/or process residing on a suitable computing platform and/ordevice, such as a tablet PC, command kiosk, or the like, as discussedbelow. Identification entity 130 may, for example, be capable ofidentifying one or more wireless nodes 102, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110,such as separately or in any suitable combination, one or moreassociated devices, slotting positions within a retail display, shelf,wall, store, etc., or any combination thereof, such as in a fashionsimilar to a dedicated identification function and/or process discussedabove. As illustrated generally via communication links 132, 134, and136, identification entity 130 may, for example, be capable ofcommunicating with one or more applicable wireless nodes via a wirelesstransceiver 138 and/or communications network 140, discussed below. Inturn, communications network 140 and/or wireless transceiver 138 mayemploy a number of communication links, referenced generally at 142,144, 146, 148, 150, and 152, to facilitate and/or support communicationwith wireless nodes 102, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110, such as for thepurposes of node identification or otherwise. In at least oneimplementation, identification entity 140 may, for example, be capableof communicating with one or more wireless nodes directly, as referencedgenerally via wireless communication links 154, 156, and/or 158.Particular examples regarding these or other communications related toexample electronically connected environment 100 will be described ingreater detail below.

As was indicated, in at least one implementation, environment 100 maycomprise wireless transceiver 138 that may, for example, act as a centerpoint of one or more electronic communications from and/or to wirelessnodes 102, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110. For example, in some instances,wireless transceiver 138 may be implemented as a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) access point capable of facilitating and/or supportingaccess to communications network 140. In another example implementation,wireless transceiver 138 may comprise, for example, a cellular basestation capable of communicating with one or more wireless nodes 102,104, 106, 108, and/or 110 via an applicable cellular communicationprotocol. In yet another example implementation, wireless transceiver138 may comprise, for example, a femtocell or picocell capable ofcommunicating with one or more wireless nodes 102, 104, 106, 108, and/or110 at a shorter range than at a range established via a base stationtransceiver, if applicable. Of course, it should be understood thatthese are merely examples of wireless transceivers, and claimed subjectmatter is not limited in this regard. As illustrated, in some instances,environment 100 may comprise a larger number of wireless transceivers,which may be capable of communicating electronically, as referenced viacommunication links 132 and 134, such as for any suitable purpose (e.g.,signal traffic routing, information forwarding, communicating, etc.) tofacilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniquesassociated with environment 100.

According to an implementation, wireless transceiver 138 may comprise,for example, an aggregator or like function and/or process, which may ormay not comprise a separate or stand-alone computing platform and/ordevice. An aggregator may, for example, be capable of collecting,consolidating, buffering, caching, communicating, etc. any suitableinformation within example environment 100, such as prior tocommunicating this or like information to one or more nodes, entities,devices, etc. associated with example environment 100. Claimed subjectmatter is not so limited, of course. For example, at times, suitableinformation may be communicated to one or more nodes, entities, devices,etc. associated with example environment 100 without being collected,consolidated, buffered, cached, etc. In some instances, wirelesstransceiver 138 may, for example, act as a point of informationintegration (e.g., for a suitable database, etc.), such as if a networkconnectivity is lost, being built, repaired, etc.

Communications network 140 may comprise, for example, any suitablewireless and/or wired communication link and/or network, or acombination of wired and/or wireless communication links and/ornetworks. Thus, in at least one implementation, communications network140 may comprise, for example, Internet Protocol (IP)-typeinfrastructure capable of facilitating and/or supporting one or morecommunications between a global view entity 160, an access controlentity 162, a database 164, wireless transceiver 138, and/oridentification entity 130, such as via respective communication links166, 168, 170, 142, and 136. In certain implementations, communicationsnetwork 140 may comprise, for example, cellular communication networkinfrastructure, such as a base station controller and/or masterswitching center capable of facilitating and/or supporting one or morecellular communications between global view entity 160, access controlentity 162, database 164, wireless transceiver 138, and/oridentification entity 130. In yet another implementation, communicationsnetwork 140 may, for example, facilitate and/or support one or morecommunications between global view entity 160, access control entity162, database 164, and/or identification entity 130 with wireless nodes102, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110, such as without the use of wirelesstransceiver 138. Thus, to illustrate, depending on an implementation,communications network 140 may comprise, for example, a wireless localarea network (WLAN, e.g., IEEE Std, 802.11 network, etc.), wirelesspersonal area network (WPAN, e.g., Bluetooth® network, etc.), cellularcommunications network. Internet, one or more intranets, or any othersuitable network or any combination thereof.

As was indicated, at times, example environment 100 may include database164, which may comprise, for example, any suitable informationrepository capable of storing or otherwise retaining information, which,at times, may be in the form of binary digital signals, just toillustrate one possible implementation. For example, in some instances,database 164 may store binary digital signals comprising attributesrelated to one or more wireless nodes 102, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110,such as statistical attributes, identifying attributes, securityattributes, operational attributes, or the like, or any combinationthereof. Statistical attributes may comprise, for example, informationregarding a number of time a particular electronic device (e.g., smarttelephone 212 of FIG. 2 , etc.) has been lifted or picked up by acustomer, a duration of a particular lift, a number of nodes withinenvironment 100, a number of alarm events (e.g., theft attempts, etc.),a number of times a particular node has been accessed (e.g., by storepersonnel, etc.), activated. (e.g., a lock node has been locked,unlocked, etc.), non-compliant (e.g., POG compliance, etc.), etc.,information regarding a movement of a node within a network, whether adevice associated with a node is on or off, or the like, or anycombination thereof. Identifying attributes may comprise, for example,information regarding a device model, type, make, etc., wireless nodeaddress (e.g., local, global, etc.), node's digital identity, post ordisplay position, power status, software version, manufacturer, or thelike, or any combination thereof. Security attributes may comprise, forexample, information regarding whether a node is currently armed ordisarmed, a number of times a node has been armed and/or disarmed,whether a post position is alarming (e.g., a tether has been cut, theftattempted, etc.), whether alarms are functioning properly, a version ofa security system (e.g., age, date of sale, type, etc.), or the like, orany combination thereof. Operational attributes may comprise, forexample, information regarding whether a device is charging, whether anenvironment, or any part of thereof, is powered correctly, AV devicesare imaging properly, whether operation-related data is beingcommunicated appropriately, or the like, or any combination thereof.

Database 164 may, for example, store one or more node-related attributesin any suitable format, such as a table (e.g., relational, logical,etc.) matrix, index, cluster, etc., such as to facilitate and/or supporttimely accessing, processing, retrieving, presenting, communicating,etc. suitable information. Thus, in some instances, database 164 maycomprise and/or be associated with one or more server devices, which mayfacilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniquesassociated with example environment 100. For example, an associatedserver device may facilitate and/or support providing any suitablenotifications to one or more entities within environment 100, asdiscussed below, such as via a real time or near real time push-typeand/or pull-type signal transfer. Briefly, in the context of the presentdisclosure, push and/or pull-type signal transfers comprisecommunications distinguished by which end of a communication pathinitiates signal transfer. Push and pull-type signal transfers aregenerally known and need not be described in greater detail. In thisdisclosure, “real time” refers to an amount of timeliness ofinformation, which may have been delayed by, for example, an amount oftime attributable to electronic communication and/or signal processing.At times, node-related attributes may be stored in database 164 withreference to a digital identity of a particular wireless node, such asto implement one or more applicable look up operations, for example,Database 164 may be accessible, such as by one or more appropriateentities associated with environment 100, for example, overcommunication network 140, such as utilizing communication link 170,and/or directly, such as utilizing a communication link 172 (e.g., forcommunications with wireless transceiver 138, etc.), a communicationlink 174 (e.g., for communications with access control entity 162,etc.), or any other suitable communication link or a combination oflinks, which may depend on a particular device, node, environment,implementation, entity, or the like. Although not shown, database 164may, for example, be capable of communicating with wireless nodes 102,104, 106, 108, and/or 110 directly, such as via receiving and/ortransmitting one or more signals, wireless or otherwise, without the useof wireless transceiver 138. At times, database 164 may comprise, forexample, a portion of clients' current IT infrastructure, such as tofacilitate and/or support pushing and/or pulling information from aclient database into environment 100 (e.g., on an as needed basis,etc.).

Continuing with the above discussion, example electronically connectedenvironment 100 may comprise, for example, access control entity 162,which, in some instances, may be implemented via a function and/orprocess residing on a suitable computing platform and/or device, such asa tablet PC, command kiosk, smart telephone, server device, etc., justto illustrate a few possible implementations. As will be seen, accesscontrol entity 162 may be capable of authorizing, authenticating,approving, auditing, etc. electronic access with respect to one or morewireless nodes, entities, devices, functions, processes, etc. associatedwith environment 100. Access control entity 162 may, for example, becapable of communicating with one or more wireless nodes, entities,devices, etc. associated with environment 100 over communicationsnetwork 140, such as via communication link 168, as one possibleexample, and/or directly via one or more applicable communication links(not shown). In at least one implementation, authorizing,authenticating, approving, auditing, etc. electronic access may, forexample, be implemented, at least in part, via login permissions, which,at times, may be defined via roles and corresponding privileges, thoughclaimed subject matter is not so limited. In some instances, accesscontrol entity 162 may comprise, for example, local access control andglobal access control aspects. Local access control may, for example, beapplicable and/or implemented with respect to a particular retailenvironment, such as a particular retail store (e.g., Verizon® Wirelessfranchise store. AT&T® Authorized Dealer store, etc.). Global accesscontrol may, for example, be applicable and/or implemented with respectto a particular environmental domain, such as a particularorganizational or business entity (e.g., Verizon® Communications, AT&T®Corporation, etc.).

In an implementation, local as well as global access control may, inturn, comprise, for example, a plurality of access control levels. Forexample, in some instances, local and global access control mayrespectively comprise an employee-type level, a manager-type level, andan administrator-type level of access control. An employee-type levelfor local access control may generally be applicable and/or implementedwith respect to, for example, retail store employees, such as for thepurpose of authorizing, authenticating, approving, etc. employeeelectronic access with respect to applicable activities within aparticular store. To illustrate, an employee-type level for local accesscontrol may, for example, allow employees to arm and/or disarm one ormore wireless nodes, retail displays, etc. from within a store, lockand/or unlock in-store cabinets, access applicable training materialsfor electronics, etc., access real-time store-related data, such as toconfirm that one or more nodes are functioning properly, etc., etc., orany combination thereof.

A manager-type level for local access control may generally beapplicable and/or implemented with respect to, for example, store orshift managers and may encompass an employee-type level of access, but,in addition, may also allow for arming and/or disarming a retail store(e.g., from the outside and/or inside, etc.), accessing a store POG(e.g., to verify compliance, etc.), creating a store node, movingdisplay positions within a store, setting up and/or deleting employeepermissions (e.g., access keys, access times, etc.), accessing auditinformation (e.g., employee access logs, training logs, etc.), orderingreplacement parts, reporting (e.g., for POG compliance, parts usage,etc.), accessing real-time and/or historical store-related data (e.g.,access, compliance, service, statistical, etc. data), etc., or anycombination thereof.

An administrator-type level for local access control may generally beapplicable and/or implemented with respect to, for example, system orlike administrators (e.g., information technology (IT) administrators,etc.), such as for the purpose of providing maintenance, installation,troubleshooting, etc., adding, removing, updating employee and/ormanager account information, managing access and/or permissions, etc.,etc., or any combination thereof, with respect to a particular store. Insome instances, an administrator-type level for local access controlmay, for example, be implemented, at least in part, via a masterpassword, though claimed subject matter is not so limited. For example,at times, an administrator-type level for local access control may, forexample, be implemented, at least in part, via individual administratoror like accounts.

Continuing with the above discussion, in an implementation, anemployee-type level for global access control may generally beapplicable and or implemented with respect to, for example, corporate orlike employees, such as for the purpose of authorizing, authenticating,approving, etc. employee electronic access with respect to one or morelocal operating environments, such as retail stores located within aparticular geographic region, as one possible example. An employee-typelevel access may, for example, allow corporate or like employees toanalyze statistics (e.g., a number of nodes that are operational,powered, secured, etc., which stores are routinely non-compliant, mostand/or least popular, alarming, etc.), verify POG or like compliance,confirm product pricing, etc., obtain retail reports, access records(e.g., maintenance, purchase, etc.), add new locations (e.g., stores,environment, etc.), change regional or other database structure forreporting purposes, obtain information as it relates to a location type,access information tied to product performance (e.g., for a specificmanufacturer, category of products, etc.) for marketing or likepurposes, etc., or any combination thereof.

According to an implementation, a manager-type level for global accesscontrol may generally be applicable and/or implemented with respect to,for example, corporate or like managers (e.g., responsible for a numberof geographic regions, etc.) and, likewise, may encompass a corporateemployee-type level of access control, but, in addition, may also allowfor POG changes, pushing content to stores in the form of POGs and/orPOG changes, applicable training, etc. etc., or any combination thereof.

In an implementation, an administrator-type level for global accesscontrol may generally be applicable and/or implemented with respect to,for example, system or like administrators, similarly, for the purposeof providing maintenance, installation, troubleshooting, etc., adding,removing, updating corporate employee and/or manager accountinformation, managing access and/or permissions, etc. add or augment anystore information categories required to properly report on storeperformance, etc., or any combination thereof. In some instances, anadministrator-type level for global access control may also allow forcreating and/or activating a new operating environment, new businessaccount, new retail store, etc. within an applicable system, pushingtraining content for store administrators, etc., etc., or anycombination thereof.

At times, an administrator-type level for global access control may haveall-inclusive system level access, such as on both store and corporatelevels, for example, to comprise a master-administrator-type level.Thus, in some instances, a master-administrator may, for example, beable to set up and/or provide access to an electronically connectedenvironment (e.g., environment 100, etc.), set up geography constraints,administrative privileges at a store and/or corporate level, etc.,deactivate a customer account (e.g., for non-payment, etc.), tier aparticular node functionality based on payment, set up a product and/orparts catalog specific to a store's purchasing history (e.g., for easiermaintenance, stocking, etc.), add and/or augment any store informationcategories for reporting on store performance, etc., or any combinationthereof. At times, a master-administrator for global access control may,for example, be granted privileges to analyze and/or create customizablereports regarding consumer behavior (e.g., at retail stores, etc.), suchas for the purposes of data monetization. These or like reports maycomprise, for example, a percentage of interactive “lifts” by customersor up-time for one or more applicable devices (e.g., Apple® iPhone 7,etc.) by store and/or geography, comparative data of lift activity withrespect to different devices (e.g., Samsung® Galaxy Note 7 vs. Apple®iPhone 7, etc.) and/or different types of devices (e.g., smart telephonevs. smart watch, etc.), change in consumer behavior (e.g., frommarketing campaigns, etc.), provide metrics and data to manufacturers asthe invest in marking campaigns tied to a retailer, etc., or anycombination thereof. Depending on an implementation, these or likeadministrator-type levels may, for example, be distinguished viapassword types (e.g., master vs. regular, etc.), access control lists(ACL) (e.g., advanced vs. intermediate, etc.), administrator accounts,or the like, or any combination thereof.

As also illustrated, example electronically connected environment 100may comprise, for example, global view entity 160, which, in someinstances, may be implemented via a function and/or process residing ona suitable computing platform and/or device, such as a tablet PC,command kiosk, smart telephone, server device, etc., just to illustratea few possible implementations. Global view entity 160 may typically,although not necessarily, be applicable and/or implemented with respectto a particular environmental domain, such as a particularorganizational or business (e.g., corporation, brand, etc.) entity, forexample, rather than a particular retail environment, such as a retailstore, though claimed subject matter is not so limited. Global viewentity 160 may, for example, allow a particular corporate or likeorganization (e.g., AT&T& Corporation, etc.) to view real-time and/orhistorical data, such as via a push and/or pull signal transfer ornotifications with respect to operational, statistical, security, orlike attributes for a particular retail environment, such as retailstore, and/or a number of retail environments, such as a plurality ofretail stores (e.g., AT&T® Authorized Dealer stores, etc.). As a way ofillustration, depending on an access control level, such as discussedabove, global view entity 160 may provide a real-time view, such as viaa dashboard or other graphically intuitive design and/or layout, forexample, allowing for global inquiry into one or more retail stores ofinterest. As such, a particular organization may, for example, utilizeglobal view entity 160, in whole or in part, to determine whetherapplicable products are merchandized according to a prescribed POG,whether a store is operational (e.g., wireless nodes, devices, etc. arepowered, secured, etc.), etc., analyze customer interactions within astore (e.g., via device lifts, durations, etc.), employee and/ormanagement activity within a store (e.g., access logs, etc.), or thelike.

In some instances, global view entity 160 may provide historical data,such as, again, depending on an access control level, for example, withrespect to device interaction and/or customer behavior (e.g., whichdevices are getting more attention, etc.), access-related activities(e.g., locking, unlocking, arming, disarming, etc.), etc. with respectto a particular a store or any combination thereof. At times, globalview entity 160 may, for example, be capable of generating suitablemetrics and/or analytics, like which stores are routinely out of POGcompliance, which stores are most and/or least popular, which stores areexperiencing the most thefts and/or alarms, or the like. In someinstances, global view entity 160 may, for example, generate and/orprovide customizable reports with respect to any suitable aspect ofstore-related activity (e.g., number of device lifts, duration of lifts,alarm events, etc.), repair and/or maintenance-related activity (e.g., anumber of service visits, parts ordered, etc.), or the like, such asarranged and/or filtered by date, geography, activity, or the like.Global view entity 160 may, for example, implement these or like tasks,processes, etc. via one or more appropriate communications, such as overcommunications network 140, as one possible example, via a communicationlink 166. Of course, these are merely details, and claimed subjectmatter is not so limited.

Although not shown, it should be noted that environment 100 may compriseone or more server devices, such as to facilitate and/or support one ormore operations and/or techniques discussed herein. For example, incertain implementations, one or more computing platforms and/or devicesassociated with one or more entities may function as server devices oras client devices (e.g., in a client-server configuration and/ornetwork), or may function, for example, as peer devices serving at timesas both server and client devices (e.g., in a peer-to-peer configurationand/or network). As a way of illustration, in a client-serverconfiguration, one or more server devices may operate as a hub toimplement one or more operations and/or techniques for an electronicallyconnected environment, such as serving one or more applicable clientdevices, including, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer,a tablet PC, a command kiosk, a smart telephone, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), or the like.

At times, a suitable computer platform, such as a computing platformassociated with database 164, as one possible example, may serve one ormore applications and/or services in response to requests from one ormore other computing platforms or devices (e.g., associated with globalview entity 160, etc.) and, as such, may function or otherwise becharacterized herein as a server device. Services may include, forexample, performing specific tasks (e.g., web site hosting or presence,graphics editing or publishing, streaming audio or video content, etc.),assigning or resolving network names or addresses (e.g., e-mail servers,domain name servers, etc.), storing or retrieving information orresources (e.g., node-related attributes, etc.), responding to requestsor inquiries (e.g., POG compliance reports, store viewing, etc.), or thelike. Thus, a server device may include, for example, a processing unitthat may be operatively coupled to a system memory or like informationrepository and/or may host one or more processes and/or applications tosupport one or more processing tasks for environment 100.

In an implementation, one or more computing platforms within environment100 may communicate with and/or may solicit or request services and/orelectronic content from server devices and, as such, may becharacterized as client computing devices. A client device, for example,may comprise a special purpose computing apparatus and/or platformhaving a memory and a processor capable of executing instructionsrepresented by one or more electrical digital signals. As illustrated inexample implementations, users and/or groups of users, such as on-siteand or off-site, for example, may access applicable electronic contentand/or may carry out tasks (e.g., view stores for POG compliance,request a spot check for a store, arm and/or disarm nodes, lock and/orunlock cabinets, create reports, etc.) on a variety of client computingdevices in coordination with one or more server devices, such as inenvironment 100, for example.

Client devices may further include a display and a graphical userinterface (GUI) to present, for example, visual content with respect toone or more applicable tasks. As used herein, GUI may refer to a programinterface that utilizes displayed graphical information to allow a userto access and/or manage a special purpose computing platform by apointer or like device or other peripheral device or mechanism. Apointer, for example, may refer to a cursor, arrow, or other symbol thatmay appear on a display and/or may be moved and/or controlled with apointing device to select and/or populate fields and/or inputinstructions or commands via a GUI of a special purpose computingplatform. A pointing device may refer to any device used to control acursor and/or arrow to select objects and/or input instructions orcommands via a GUI of a special purpose computing platform. Pointingdevices may include, for example, a mouse, a trackball, a track pad, atrack stick, a keyboard, a stylus, a digitizing tablet, or similar typesof devices. Herein, terms such as “click” or “clicking” may refer to aselection process made by any pointing device, such as a mouse, forexample, but use of such terms is not intended to be so limited. Forexample, a selection process may be made via a touch screen. Forexample, “clicking” may be replaced by “touching.” However, these aremerely examples of methods of selecting objects and/or inputtinginformation and claimed subject matter is not limited in scope in theserespects.

It should be appreciated that there may be no single type of clientdevice with which a user or a group of users may choose to access,manage, view, communicate, etc. electronic content associated withexample environment 100. Users may work with various types of devicesthat may have a variety of resident and/or add-on applications,including a thin client computing device (e.g., a network appliance,etc.), a desktop computing device, a smart telephone (iPhone®, etc.), atablet PC (iPad®, etc.), a PDA, etc., just to name a few examples. Forexample, in some instances, a particular environment may utilize aso-called “parent” client device (and/or resident application), such asin the form of a tablet PC to control and or report on a number ofaspects with respect to one or more so-called “child” client devices(and/or resident applications), such as in the form of smart telephones.As was indicated, a “parent” client device may, for example, beutilized, at least in part, by a store or shift manager to controland/or report on all or most aspects of a retail environment, such as aretail store, and a “child” client device may be utilized, at least inpart, by a store employee to control and/or report on a subset ofactivities within the store. Thus, in an implementation, a client devicemay include a browser or similar-type application that may enable aclient device to access and/or display electronic content located on oneor more server devices associated with environment 100, such as, forexample, directly and/or via communications network 140.

In an example implementation, one or more server devices may provide ahost environment that may comprise a special purpose multimediacomputing platform, which may include one or more suitable hostapplications providing a dynamic virtualized platform for users and/orgroups of users to conveniently access, view, edit, store, share,publish, organize, communicate, etc. electronic content (e.g., viafiles, folders, etc.) over a public (e.g., the Internet, etc.) and/orprivate (e.g., an intranet, etc.) electronic or like communicationsnetwork. Thus, a suitable application programming interface (API) may,for example, be provided within environment 100 by a special purposehost or server computer and may be used, at least in part, to support aGUI on one or more client devices. At times, this may, for example,facilitate and/or support relatively seamless integration between one ormore varying client-based resident programs (e.g., on client devices),if applicable, which may implement and/or improve collaboration betweenvarious entities, such as for viewing, editing, storing, sharing,publishing, organizing, etc. electronic content.

In at least one implementation, browser-deployed applications may, forexample, facilitate and/or support user interaction with electroniccontent relatively independently of hardware and/or softwarecapabilities that may be available on client devices, such as via acloud-type web service, as one possible example, that may be accessiblevia wireless transceiver 138 and/or communications network 140. Thus, attimes, a relatively small software load may be advantageouslyexperienced by a thin client device, such as a tablet PC, smarttelephone, etc., for example, while one or more communicativelyinteroperated server devices may carry a fuller load of multipleapplications, tasks, services, information, or the like. Accordingly,such an implementation may, for example, provide users and/or groups ofusers with an efficient, convenient, easy-to-use, etc. visual experiencefor creating, viewing, editing, sharing, publishing, organizing, etc.electronic content, may improve communication, collaboration, etc. amongmultiple users and/or groups of users, or the like. In some instances,electronic content may, for example, be accessed and/or downloaded froma host and/or server device (e.g., under a license, etc.), such as to bestored locally on a client device to facilitate and/or support one ormore operations and/or techniques discussed herein. Of course, variousclient-server and/or peer-to-peer implementations as well as associatedapplications are possible, and it is not intended to limit claimedsubject matter to a particular implementation. For example, as wasindicated, at times, one or more appropriate communications withinexample environment 100 may be implemented, at least in part, via asuitable peer-to-peer-type communication protocol.

Even though a certain number of entities, wireless nodes, devices, etc.are illustrated herein, any number of suitable entities, wireless nodes,devices, etc. may be implemented to facilitate and/or support one ormore techniques and/or processes associated with example electronicallyconnected environment 100. For example, at times, communications network140 may be coupled to one or more other wired and/or wirelesscommunications networks (e.g., WLAN. WPAN, etc.) so as to enhance acoverage area for communications with one or more applicable wirelessnodes, devices, entities, etc. In some instances, communications network140 may facilitate and/or support femtocell-based operative regions ofcoverage, for example, as was indicated. As was also discussed, attimes, example environment 100 may comprise, for example, one or moreserver devices, stand-alone or otherwise, capable of facilitating and/orsupporting one or more associated techniques and/or processes. Althoughnot shown, in some instances, example environment 100 may also comprise,for example, one or more other network devices, such as capable offacilitating and/or supporting one or more operations and/or techniquesdiscussed herein. Again, these are merely example implementations, andclaimed subject matter is not limited in this regard.

Thus, in operative use, such as in the context of a consumer electronicsenvironment, such as a consumer electronics store, as one possibleexample, one or more wireless nodes 102, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110 maycomprise and/or be associated with, for example, one or more consumerelectronics devices, such as smart telephones, tablet PCs, notebooks.PDAs, or the like. As was indicated, consumer electronics devices may,for example, be offered for sale in a particular retail store, such aspart of a countertop or table top display, for example. A display may,for example, have a number of display positions that may correspond to avariety of individual device models that are offered for sale. As wasdiscussed with reference to FIG. 2 , in some instances, a consumerelectronics device may, for example, be tethered to a display base,display post, etc. (e.g., for antitheft security, etc.) where they canbe lifted for examination by a potential purchaser and returned to aresting position on the display base, post, etc. To illustrate, aconsumer may lift a particular consumer electronics device that may bepart of a device node, such as wireless node 104, for example, such asto inspect, evaluate, compare, etc. a consumer electronics device'sscreen size, user interface, camera, various features, or the like. Assuch, a consumer may, for example, have an expectation that a consumerelectronics device will be operational.

Thus, a display position may, for example, have suitable circuitryand/or processing resources, such as adequate to make electrical orother suitable connections to a particular consumer electronics devicefor the purposes of supplying power, providing security, implementingsignal transfer, or the like, or any combination thereof, as was alsodiscussed. For example, circuitry and/or processing resources associatedwith a display position may implement antitheft security, such as totrigger an alarm if an attempt is made to remove, disconnect, etc. aconsumer electronics device from a display position. This may, forexample, be detected via any suitable techniques, such as via one ormore pressure switches at a surface between a consumer electronicsdevice and a display base (e.g., mounting surface 214 of FIG. 2 , etc.),security cables having pressure switches on a device's housing, physicaldisconnection of adaptor cable from a display base, or the like.

Continuing with the above discussion, a device node, such as wirelessnode 104, for example, may communicate information regarding acustomer's interaction with an associated consumer electronics device(e.g., a lift event, a duration of lift, a number of lifts, etc.) viacommunication link 146 to wireless transceiver 138, in real time orotherwise. For example, at times, a particular event (e.g., a lift,etc.) may be communicated by wireless node 104 upon the event'soccurrence, as a separate communication, or, optionally oralternatively, a number of events may be buffered or collected in asuitable manner in an associated storage (e.g., buffer, memoryappliance, etc.), if applicable, and may be communicated on a periodicbasis, just to illustrate another possible implementation. At times,wireless node 104 may also communicate any other suitable information,such as whether an associated consumer electronics device, node, etc. isoperational, secure, powered, etc., who accessed a node and/or device,etc., as also discussed herein, such as in real time or otherwise.

As was also discussed, this or like information may be communicated towireless transceiver 138 directly, such as via communication link 146,for example, and/or via routing or passing through one or more otherwireless nodes (e.g., via communication link 112 to wireless node 102,then via communication link 144 to wireless transceiver 138, etc.). Thisor like information may be communicated with reference to a digitalidentity of wireless node 104, which may be determined, at least inpart, via node ID 122, for example, or, optionally or alternatively,identification entity 130, as was also indicated. In a particularimplementation, a digital identity of wireless node 104 may, forexample, be determined via identification entity 130 and relatedcommunications (e.g., via communication links 154, 156, 158, etc. Insome instances, identification entity 130 may, for example, communicatea digital identity of wireless node 104 to wireless transceiver 138, orany suitable number of wireless transceivers, such as via communicationlinks 132 and/or 134. At times, a digital identity of wireless node 104may, for example, be communicated to wireless transceiver 138, or anysuitable number of wireless transceivers, such as over communicationsnetwork 140 via communication links 136 and 142. Again, claimed subjectmatter is not limited to particular communications shown in exampleenvironment 100.

In an implementation, having received information from one or morewireless nodes, such as wireless node 104, for this example, wirelesstransceiver 138 may aggregate such information in a suitable manner. Forexample, wireless transceiver 138 may organize, process, store, batch,etc. received information in one or more buffers, as one possibleexample, and may subsequently communicate such information to database164, such as on a periodic basis (e.g., via one or more batches, etc.).Claimed subject matter is not so limited, of course. For example, insome instances, wireless transceiver 138 may communicate applicableinformation to database 164 in real time, such as upon receipt fromwireless node 104, identification entity 130, communications network140, etc. Thus, depending on an implementation, information may, forexample, be communicated from wireless transceiver 138 to database 164directly, such as via communication link 172, or, optionally oralternatively, over communications network 140, such as via one or moreapplicable communication links (e.g., link 142, etc.).

Although not shown, one or more wireless nodes may be capable ofcommunicating information to database 164 directly, such as without theuse of wireless transceiver 138, just to illustrate another possibleimplementation. In some instances, one or more entities associated withexample environment 100 may be capable of electronically issuingcommands or like instructions to one or more wireless nodes. Forexample, commands or instructions may include “on/off”-type commands,commands regarding time-based action attributes, such as power downcommands to save power during night time operations, service modecommands to allow for node maintenance, installation mode commands forjoining a network, etc., activation of service commands, installationmode commands, or the like, or any combination thereof.

According to an implementation, database 164 may, for example, storeinformation in any suitable manner and/or format (e.g., a table, matrix,index, cluster, etc.), as was also discussed. In some instances, storedinformation may, for example, be accessed and/or utilized, in whole orin part, by one or more entities associated with example environment100, such as for a variety of purposes. For example, at times, database164 may be accessed by access control entity 162, such as directly viacommunication link 174 and/or over communications network 140 andappropriate communication links (e.g., 168, 170, etc.) to implement oneor more levels of local and/or global access control, such as discussedabove. Access control entity 162 may, for example, implement accesscontrol in any suitable manner, such as via one or more appropriatecommunications with wireless transceiver 138, global view entity 160,wireless nodes 102, 104, 106, 108, and/or 110, etc., or any combinationthereof. Access control entity 162 may also associate a particular levelof access control (e.g., via an ACL, etc.) for a user or group of userswith a particular retail environment, such as a particular retaildisplay, store, etc. or a number of displays, stores, etc. and maycommunicate such information for storing in database 164, such as viacommunication link 174 and/or 168 and 170. Such information may, forexample, be used, at least in part, to audit store personnel accessactivity, such as via a comparison with applicable access logs.

In some instances, database 164 may be accessed by global view entity160, such as from an off-site location over communications network 140and associated communication links 166 and 170, for example, to viewreal-time and/or historical information with respect to operational,statistical, security, or like attributes for a particular retailenvironment, such as retail store, and/or a number of retailenvironments, such as a plurality of retail stores, as was alsodiscussed above. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3 , in animplementation, a global view entity (e.g., global view entity 160 ofFIG. 1 , etc.) may provide, such as via an appropriate user interface300, a real-time view of a particular consumer electronics retailenvironment, which may be implemented in connection with a prescribedPOG 302, one or more images of associated displays, or the like. By wayof example but not limitation, a particular rectangular box in FIG. 3may represent, for example, a different retail display, such asseparated according to brand, product type, or for other suitable (e.g.,marketing, etc.) reasons. An image, referenced herein at 304, may, forexample, pertain to a particular retail display (e.g., Applet products,etc.) and may be brought up on an associated computer screen (e.g., viaa GUI, etc.) via a user's clicking on or touching a corresponding retaildisplay and/or display position within POG 302, just to illustrate onepossible implementation. As such, a particular organization may, forexample, utilize a global view entity, in whole or in part, to determinewhether applicable products are merchandized according to a prescribedPOG, whether a store is operational (e.g., wireless nodes, devices, etc.are powered, secured, etc. via green or red indicators, etc.), or thelike. Claimed subject matter is not limited to a particular POG, retaildisplay, layout, etc. illustrated in FIG. 3 , of course.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , as was also discussed, at times, global viewentity 160 may provide historical information, such as, for example,with respect to device interaction and/or customer behavior (e.g., whichdevices are getting more attention, etc.), access-related activities(e.g., locking, unlocking, arming, disarming, etc.), etc. with respectto a particular a store or any combination thereof. In some instances,global view entity 160 may, for example, be capable of generatingsuitable metrics and or analytics, like which stores are routinely outof POG compliance, which stores are most and/or least popular, whichstores are experiencing the most thefts and/or alarms, or the like. Forexample, as illustrated via graphs in FIG. 4 in accordance with aparticular implementation, global view entity 160 may, for example,generate and/or provide customizable reports with respect to anysuitable aspect of store-related activity (e.g., number of device lifts,duration of lifts, etc.), or the like, such as arranged by hour of day,position, fixture (e.g., countertop display, etc.), or the like. Again,details shown in FIG. 4 are merely examples to which claimed subjectmatter is not limited.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , in an implementation, a global view entitymay, for example, provide a viewing capability, such as to monitor, inreal time or otherwise, one or more specific physical spaces, areas,etc. that may be occupied by products that may not be a “node.” As seen,here, a camera node associated with an electronically connectedenvironment may, for example, image a wine rack 500, such as to confirmthat one or more particular products that are not “nodes,” such as winebottles, as one possible example, are displayed at a prescribed physicalspot within rack 500, as referenced generally via an arrow at 502. Insome instances, a camera node associated with an electronicallyconnected environment may, for example, also be used to confirm that oneor more particular wine bottles are appropriately restocked, asreferenced generally via an arrow at 504. As such, a particularorganization may, for example, be capable of ensuring that a product isbeing displayed, merchandized, stocked, etc. correctly, as was alsodiscussed. Likewise, FIG. 5 is provided as merely an example to whichclaimed subject matter is not limited.

By way of another example, such as implemented in the context of anassisted living and/or health care environment employing a number oflock nodes, for example, in operative use, a particular care providermay, for example, be capable of implementing (e.g., controlling,recording, etc.) access to medicines or other protected or suitableitems or substances, such as in connection with logging times, names,medicines, dates, etc. of accessing. As was indicated, here, lock nodesmay, for example, be used, at least in part, to interoperate a number ofaspects, such as regulatory compliance, treatment plans, prescription orlike access control, progress reporting, and/or security, or the likewithin an assisted living and/or health care environment. At times, locknodes may also be used, at least in part, to address a variety of otheraspects, such as to ensure that items are not being stolen and/or usedwithout express permissions, in order to obtain and/or maintaincertification status, assess and or report on staff training and/ordelegation, treatment and/or service plans, medication access and/oradministration processes, or the like.

By way of example but not limitation, lock nodes may be employed, atleast in part, to address theft and/or misuse of medicines, or any othercontrolled and/or valuable substances, items, etc. in the context of anassisted living and/or health care environment. Namely, in someinstances, lock nodes may, for example, provide access control to anumber of storage points, such as medicine chests, medical carts,locking cabinets containing sensitive goods and/or information, as wellas multiple other uses. These nodes may, for example, be capable oflocking and/or unlocking associated locking devices remotely, such asvia a suitable network by activation of the locking devices by anauthorized user on the network. As such, unauthorized users may not beable to unlock a lock and, thus, access a good. To facilitate and/orsupport this, one or more access logs may, for example, be implemented,such as via recording accessing events with reference to time, date,name, location, etc. and/or storing the logs in a suitable database. Asa way of illustration, access logs may, for example, be used, at leastin part, to determine the last user to access a lock before a theftoccurred, notify a user if access to an area has been left open for alonger than authorized time period, if a locking device and/or node hasmalfunctioned, in need of maintenance, or the like, or any combinationthereof.

In addition, at times, access logs, such as in connection with asuitable database, for example, may allow for real time or near realtime access control of an applicable environment (e.g., adding,removing, etc. users' ability to access locks globally and/or locallyvia a network, etc.). As was also indicated, in some instances, locknodes may, for example, facilitate and/or support reporting forregulatory or other compliance aspects, tracking a number of timesparticular cabinets were opened so as to resupply, electronicallyrefill, restock, etc. applicable medicines, track refills and/or shelfpresence so as to determine medicines' expiration dates, or the like, orany combination thereof. Of course, these are merely examples relatingto application of lock nodes within a particular environment, andclaimed subject matter is not so limited. For example, at times, locknodes may be used, at least in part, to facilitate and/or support theseor like aspects within any other suitable environment (e.g., commercial,industrial, etc.), such as to protect valuable, sensitive, or othersuitable materials, information, etc. or any combination thereof. Locknodes may, for example, be employed, in whole or in part, in connectionwith accessing vehicles on a dealer's lot, cabinets within a retailstore, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an implementation of an exampleprocess 600 that may be performed, in whole or in part, to facilitateand/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for anelectronically connected environment. As was indicated, at times,example process 600 may be implemented, at least in part, in connectionwith one or more computing and/or communication networks, devices,and/or protocols. It should be noted that information or contentacquired and/or produced, such as, for example, input signals, outputsignals, operations, results, etc. associated with example process 600may comprise and/or be represented via one or more digital signals. Itshould also be appreciated that even though one or more operations areillustrated and/or described concurrently and/or with respect to acertain sequence, other sequences and/or concurrent operations may beemployed, in whole or in part. In addition, although the descriptionbelow references particular aspects and/or features illustrated incertain other figures, one or more operations may be performed withother aspects and/or features.

Example process 600 may, for example, begin at operation 602 withcommunicating electronically regarding one or more nodes on a networkassociated with a connected environment with at least one of thefollowing: an access control entity; a global view entity: anidentification entity: a network device; at least one of the one or morenodes; or any combination thereof, one or more communications of thecommunicating electronically occurring, at least in part, through use ofa digital identity of the one or more nodes. Depending on animplementation, a node may comprise, for example, a device node, a hooknode, a shelf node, a display node, a power outlet node, an audio-video(AV) controller node, a camera node, a sensor node, a status indicatornode, a docking station node, a goods node, a security node, etc. Insome instances, one or more nodes may comprise, for example, one or morewireless nodes capable of communicating electronically, such as viatransmitting and/or receiving applicable signals (e.g., via apeer-to-peer, client-server, etc. communication). A connectedenvironment may comprise, for example, a retail environment (e.g., aretail store, retail display, etc.), an assisted living environment, ahealth care environment, etc., or any combination thereof, which mayalso depend on a particular implementation. As was indicated, a networkmay comprise, for example, any suitable wireless and/or wiredcommunications network, or any combination thereof.

As was also discussed, communicating electronically may include one ormore communications regarding, for example, status of one or more nodes,a location of one or more nodes, an instruction to one or more nodes,etc., or any combination thereof. For example, communications regardingstatus of one or more nodes may include communications regardingsecurity-related status (e.g., whether one or more nodes are alarming,secure, etc.), operation-related status (e.g., whether one or more nodesare functioning properly, etc.), access-related status (e.g., who, when,why, etc. accessed one or more nodes, etc.), activity-related status(e.g., lift events, durations, etc.), etc., or any combination thereof.In an implementation, status of one or more nodes may, for example,determined, at least in part, with respect to one or more levels, whichmay include an employee-type level, a manager-type level, anadministrator-type level, a master-administrator-type level, etc., orany combination thereof, such as discussed above. At times, aninstruction to one or more nodes may comprise, for example, a command,such as communicated electronically to transition into a maintenancestate, installation, learning, etc. state, power down into a powerpreservation state, or the like, or any combination thereof.

At times, one or more electronic communications regarding one or morenodes may include, for example, communications with a suitable database,which may process, collect, organize, store, etc. associated informationusing any suitable techniques. A database may comprise, for example, anysuitable information repository capable of storing or otherwiseretaining any suitable information, which may include statisticalattributes, identifying attributes, security attributes, operationalattributes, or the like, or any combination thereof, such as related toone or more nodes.

Example process 600 may, for example, continue at operation 604 withfacilitating and/or supporting implementation of at least one taskregarding the one or more nodes on the network associated with theconnected environment. For example, as was also discussed, a task maycomprise an access control-related task (e.g., global, local, etc.), anidentification-related task (e.g., via a dedicated node ID, separateentity, etc.), a global view-related task (e.g., reporting on POGcompliance, customer interactions, employee and/or management activity,etc.), or any other suitable task, such as a master administratorlevel-related task (e.g., set up and/or deactivate a customer account,generate reports for data monetization, etc.), etc., or any combinationthereof.

In the context of the present disclosure, the term “connection,” theterm “component” and/or similar terms are intended to be physical, butare not necessarily always tangible. Whether or not these terms refer totangible subject matter, thus, may vary in a particular context ofusage. As an example, a tangible connection and/or tangible connectionpath may be made, such as by a tangible, electrical connection, such asan electrically conductive path comprising metal or other electricalconductor, that is able to conduct electrical current between twotangible components. Likewise, a tangible connection path may be atleast partially affected and/or controlled, such that, as is typical, atangible connection path may be open or closed, at times resulting frominfluence of one or more externally derived signals, such as externalcurrents and/or voltages, such as for an electrical switch. Non-limitingillustrations of an electrical switch include a transistor, a diode,etc. However, a “connection” and/or “component,” in a particular contextof usage, likewise, although physical, can also be non-tangible, such asa connection between a client and a server over a network, whichgenerally refers to the ability for the client and server to transmit,receive, and/or exchange communications, as discussed in more detaillater.

In a particular context of usage, such as a particular context in whichtangible components are being discussed, therefore, the terms “coupled”and “connected” are used in a manner so that the terms are notsynonymous. Similar terms may also be used in a manner in which asimilar intention is exhibited. Thus, “connected” is used to indicatethat two or more tangible components and/or the like, for example, aretangibly in direct physical contact. Thus, using the previous example,two tangible components that are electrically connected are physicallyconnected via a tangible electrical connection, as previously discussed.However, “coupled,” is used to mean that potentially two or moretangible components are tangibly in direct physical contact.Nonetheless, is also used to mean that two or more tangible componentsand/or the like are not necessarily tangibly in direct physical contact,but are able to co-operate, liaise, and/or interact, such as, forexample, by being “optically coupled.” Likewise, the term “coupled” maybe understood to mean indirectly connected in an appropriate context. Itis further noted, in the context of the present disclosure, the termphysical if used in relation to memory, such as memory components ormemory states, as examples, necessarily implies that memory, such memorycomponents and/or memory states, continuing with the example, istangible.

Additionally, in the present disclosure, in a particular context ofusage, such as a situation in which tangible components (and/orsimilarly, tangible materials) are being discussed, a distinction existsbetween being “on” and being “over.” As an example, deposition of asubstance “on” a substrate refers to a deposition involving directphysical and tangible contact without an intermediary, such as anintermediary substance (e.g., an intermediary substance formed during anintervening process operation), between the substance deposited and thesubstrate in this latter example; nonetheless, deposition “over” asubstrate, while understood to potentially include deposition “on” asubstrate (since being “on” may also accurately be described as being“over”), is understood to include a situation in which one or moreintermediaries, such as one or more intermediary substances, are presentbetween the substance deposited and the substrate so that the substancedeposited is not necessarily in direct physical and tangible contactwith the substrate.

A similar distinction is made in an appropriate particular context ofusage, such as in which tangible materials and/or tangible componentsare discussed, between being “beneath” and being “under.” While“beneath,” in such a particular context of usage, is intended tonecessarily imply physical and tangible contact (similar to “on.” asjust described). “under” potentially includes a situation in which thereis direct physical and tangible contact, but does not necessarily implydirect physical and tangible contact, such as if one or moreintermediaries, such as one or more intermediary substances, arepresent. Thus, “on” is understood to mean “immediately over” and“beneath” is understood to mean “immediately under.”

It is likewise appreciated that terms such as “over” and “under” areunderstood in a similar manner as the terms “up,” “down,” “top.”“bottom,” and so on, previously mentioned. These terms may be used tofacilitate discussion, but are not intended to necessarily restrictscope of claimed subject matter. For example, the term “over,” as anexample, is not meant to suggest that claim scope is limited to onlysituations in which an embodiment is right side up, such as incomparison with the embodiment being upside down, for example. Anexample includes a flip chip, as one illustration, in which, forexample, orientation at various times (e.g., during fabrication) may notnecessarily correspond to orientation of a final product. Thus, if anobject, as an example, is within applicable claim scope in a particularorientation, such as upside down, as one example, likewise, it isintended that the latter also be interpreted to be included withinapplicable claim scope in another orientation, such as right side up,again, as an example, and vice-versa, even if applicable literal claimlanguage has the potential to be interpreted otherwise. Of course,again, as always has been the case in the specification of a patentapplication, particular context of description and/or usage provideshelpful guidance regarding reasonable inferences to be drawn.

Unless otherwise indicated, in the context of the present disclosure,the term “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B, or C, isintended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as wellas A, B, or C, here used in the exclusive sense. With thisunderstanding, “and” is used in the inclusive sense and intended to meanA, B, and C; whereas “and/or” can be used in an abundance of caution tomake clear that all of the foregoing meanings are intended, althoughsuch usage is not required. In addition, the term “one or more” and/orsimilar terms is used to describe any feature, structure,characteristic, and/or the like in the singular, “and/or” is also usedto describe a plurality and/or some other combination of features,structures, characteristics, and/or the like. Furthermore, the terms“first,” “second” “third,” and the like are used to distinguishdifferent aspects, such as different components, as one example, ratherthan supplying a numerical limit or suggesting a particular order,unless expressly indicated otherwise. Likewise, the term “based on”and/or similar terms are understood as not necessarily intending toconvey an exhaustive list of factors, but to allow for existence ofadditional factors not necessarily expressly described.

Furthermore, it is intended, for a situation that relates toimplementation of claimed subject matter and is subject to testing,measurement, and/or specification regarding degree, to be understood inthe following manner. As an example, in a given situation, assume avalue of a physical property is to be measured. If alternativelyreasonable approaches to testing, measurement, and/or specificationregarding degree, at least with respect to the property, continuing withthe example, is reasonably likely to occur to one of ordinary skill, atleast for implementation purposes, claimed subject matter is intended tocover those alternatively reasonable approaches unless otherwiseexpressly indicated. As an example, if a plot of measurements over aregion is produced and implementation of claimed subject matter refersto employing a measurement of slope over the region, but a variety ofreasonable and alternative techniques to estimate the slope over thatregion exist, claimed subject matter is intended to cover thosereasonable alternative techniques, even if those reasonable alternativetechniques do not provide identical values, identical measurements oridentical results, unless otherwise expressly indicated.

It is further noted that the terms “type” and/or “like,” if used, suchas with a feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like, using“optical” or “electrical” as simple examples, means at least partiallyof and/or relating to the feature, structure, characteristic, and/or thelike in such a way that presence of minor variations, even variationsthat might otherwise not be considered fully consistent with thefeature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like, do not in generalprevent the feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like frombeing of a “type” and/or being “like,” (such as being an “optical-type”or being “optical-like,” for example) if the minor variations aresufficiently minor so that the feature, structure, characteristic,and/or the like would still be considered to be predominantly presentwith such variations also present. Thus, continuing with this example,the terms optical-type and/or optical-like properties are necessarilyintended to include optical properties. Likewise, the termselectrical-type and/or electrical-like properties, as another example,are necessarily intended to include electrical properties. It should benoted that the specification of the present disclosure merely providesone or more illustrative examples and claimed subject matter is intendedto not be limited to one or more illustrative examples; however, again,as has always been the case with respect to the specification of apatent application, particular context of description and/or usageprovides helpful guidance regarding reasonable inferences to be drawn.

With advances in technology, it has become more typical to employdistributed computing and/or communication approaches in which portionsof a process, such as signal processing of signal samples, for example,may be allocated among various devices, including one or more clientdevices, one or more server devices and/or one or more peer-to-peerdevices, via a computing and/or communications network, for example. Anetwork may comprise two or more devices, such as network devices and/orcomputing devices, and/or may couple devices, such as network devicesand/or computing devices, so that signal communications, such as in theform of signal packets and/or signal frames (e.g., comprising one ormore signal samples), for example, may be exchanged, such as between aserver device, a client device and/or a peer-to-peer device, as well asother types of devices, including between wired and/or wireless devicescoupled via a wired and/or wireless network, for example.

An example of a distributed computing system comprises the so-calledHadoop distributed computing system, which employs a map-reduce type ofarchitecture. In the context of the present disclosure, the termsmap-reduce architecture and/or similar terms are intended to refer to adistributed computing system implementation and/or embodiment forprocessing and/or for generating larger sets of signal samples employingmap and/or reduce operations for a parallel, distributed processperformed over a network of devices. A map operation and/or similarterms refer to processing of signals (e.g., signal samples) to generateone or more key-value pairs and to distribute the one or more pairs toone or more devices of the system (e.g., network). A reduce operationand/or similar terms refer to processing of signals (e.g., signalsamples) via a summary operation (e.g., such as counting the number ofstudents in a queue, yielding name frequencies, etc.). A system mayemploy such an architecture, such as by marshaling distributed serverdevices, executing various tasks in parallel, and/or managingcommunications, such as signal transfers, between various parts of thesystem (e.g., network), in an embodiment. As mentioned, onenon-limiting, but well-known, example comprises the Hadoop distributedcomputing system. It refers to an open source implementation and/orembodiment of a map-reduce type architecture (available from the ApacheSoftware Foundation, 1901 Munsey Drive, Forrest Hill, Md., 21050-2747),but may include other aspects, such as the Hadoop distributed filesystem (HDFS) (available from the Apache Software Foundation, 1901Munsey Drive, Forrest Hill, Md., 21050-2747). In general, therefore.“Hadoop” and/or similar terms (e.g., “Hadoop-type,” etc.) refer to animplementation and/or embodiment of a scheduler for executing largerprocessing jobs using a map-reduce architecture over a distributedsystem. Furthermore, in the context of the present disclosure, use ofthe term “Hadoop” is intended to include versions, presently knownand/or to be later developed.

In the context of the present disclosure, the term “network device”refers to any device capable of communicating via and/or as part of anetwork and may comprise a computing device. While network devices maybe capable of communicating signals (e.g., signal packets and/orframes), such as via a wired and/or wireless network, they may also becapable of performing operations associated with a computing device,such as arithmetic and/or logic operations, processing and/or storingoperations (e.g., storing signal samples), such as in a non-transitorymemory as tangible, physical memory states, and/or may, for example,operate as a server device and/or a client device in variousembodiments. Network devices capable of operating as a server device, aclient device and/or otherwise, may include, as examples, dedicatedrack-mounted servers, desktop computers, laptop computers, set topboxes, tablets, netbooks, smart phones, wearable devices, integrateddevices combining two or more features of the foregoing devices, and/orthe like, or any combination thereof. As mentioned, signal packetsand/or frames, for example, may be exchanged, such as between a serverdevice and/or a client device, as well as other types of devices,including between wired and/or wireless devices coupled via a wiredand/or wireless network, for example, or any combination thereof. It isnoted that the terms, server, server device, server computing device,server computing platform and/or similar terms are used interchangeably.Similarly, the terms client, client device, client computing device,client computing platform and/or similar terms are also usedinterchangeably. While in some instances, for ease of description, theseterms may be used in the singular, such as by referring to a “clientdevice” or a “server device,” the description is intended to encompassone or more client devices and/or one or more server devices, asappropriate. Along similar lines, references to a “database” areunderstood to mean, one or more databases and/or portions thereof, asappropriate.

It should be understood that for ease of description, a network device(also referred to as a networking device) may be embodied and/ordescribed in terms of a computing device and vice-versa. However, itshould further be understood that this description should in no way beconstrued so that claimed subject matter is limited to one embodiment,such as only a computing device and/or only a network device, but,instead, may be embodied as a variety of devices or combinationsthereof, including, for example, one or more illustrative examples.

A network may also include now known, and/or to be later developedarrangements, derivatives, and/or improvements, including, for example,past, present and/or future mass storage, such as network attachedstorage (NAS), a storage area network (SAN), and/or other forms ofdevice readable media, for example. A network may include a portion ofthe Internet, one or more local area networks (LANs), one or more widearea networks (WANs), wire-line type connections, wireless typeconnections, other connections, or any combination thereof. Thus, anetwork may be worldwide in scope and/or extent. Likewise, sub-networks,such as may employ differing architectures and/or may be substantiallycompliant and/or substantially compatible with differing protocols, suchas network computing and/or communications protocols (e.g., networkprotocols), may interoperate within a larger network.

In the context of the present disclosure, the term sub-network and/orsimilar terms, if used, for example, with respect to a network, refersto the network and/or a part thereof. Sub-networks may also compriselinks, such as physical links, connecting and/or coupling nodes, so asto be capable to communicate signal packets and/or frames betweendevices of particular nodes, including via wired links, wireless links,or combinations thereof. Various types of devices, such as networkdevices and/or computing devices, may be made available so that deviceinteroperability is enabled and/or, in at least some instances, may betransparent. In the context of the present disclosure, the term“transparent,” if used with respect to particular communicating devicesof a network, refers to the devices communicating via the network inwhich the devices are able to communicate via one or more intermediatedevices, such as of one or more intermediate nodes, but without thecommunicating devices necessarily specifying the one or moreintermediate nodes and/or the one or more intermediate devices of theone or more intermediate nodes. Thus, a network may include the one ormore intermediate nodes and/or the one or more intermediate devices ofthe one or more intermediate nodes in communications and the network mayengage in communications via the one or more intermediate nodes and/orthe one or more intermediate devices of the one or more intermediatenodes, but the network may operate as if such intermediate nodes and/orintermediate devices are not necessarily involved in communicationsbetween the particular communicating devices. For example, a router mayprovide a link and/or connection between otherwise separate and/orindependent LANs.

In the context of the present disclosure, a “private network” refers toa particular, limited set of devices, such as network devices and/orcomputing devices, able to communicate with other devices, such asnetwork devices and/or computing devices, in the particular, limitedset, such as via signal packet and/or signal frame communications, forexample, without a need for re-routing and/or redirecting signalcommunications. A private network may comprise a stand-alone network;however, a private network may also comprise a subset of a largernetwork, such as, for example, without limitation, all or a portion ofthe Internet. Thus, for example, a private network “in the cloud” mayrefer to a private network that comprises a subset of the Internet.Although signal packet and/or frame communications (e.g. signalcommunications) may employ intermediate devices of intermediate nodes toexchange signal packets and/or signal frames, those intermediate devicesmay not necessarily be included in the private network by not being asource or designated destination for one or more signal packets and/orsignal frames, for example. It is understood in the context of thepresent disclosure that a private network may direct outgoing signalcommunications to devices not in the private network, but devicesoutside the private network may not necessarily be able to directinbound signal communications to devices included in the privatenetwork.

The Internet refers to a decentralized global network of interoperablenetworks that comply with the Internet Protocol (IP). It is noted thatthere are several versions of the Internet Protocol. The term InternetProtocol, IP, and/or similar terms are intended to refer to any version,now known and/or to be later developed. The Internet includes local areanetworks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs, wireless networks, and/orlong haul networks that, for example, may allow signal packets and/orframes to be communicated between LANs. The term World Wide Web (WWW orWeb) and/or similar terms may also be used, although it refers to a partof the Internet that complies with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP). For example, network devices may engage in an HTTP sessionthrough an exchange of appropriately substantially compatible and/orsubstantially compliant signal packets and/or frames. It is noted thatthere are several versions of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The termHypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP, and/or similar terms are intended torefer to any version, now known and/or to be later developed. It islikewise noted that in various places in this document substitution ofthe term Internet with the term World Wide Web (“Web”) may be madewithout a significant departure in meaning and may, therefore, also beunderstood in that manner if the statement would remain correct withsuch a substitution.

Although claimed subject matter is not in particular limited in scope tothe Internet and/or to the Web; nonetheless, the Internet and/or the Webmay without limitation provide a useful example of an embodiment atleast for purposes of illustration. As indicated, the Internet and/orthe Web may comprise a worldwide system of interoperable networks,including interoperable devices within those networks. The Internetand/or Web has evolved to a self-sustaining facility accessible topotentially billions of people or more worldwide. Also, in anembodiment, and as mentioned above, the terms “WWW” and/or “Web” referto a part of the Internet that complies with the Hypertext TransferProtocol. The Internet and/or the Web, therefore, in the context of thepresent disclosure, may comprise a service that organizes stored digitalcontent, such as, for example, text, images, video, etc., through theuse of hypermedia, for example. It is noted that a network, such as theInternet and/or Web, may be employed to store electronic files and/orelectronic documents.

The term “electronic file” and/or the term “electronic document” or thelike are used throughout this document to refer to a set of storedmemory states and/or a set of physical signals associated in a manner soas to thereby at least logically form a file (e.g., electronic) and/oran electronic document. That is, it is not meant to implicitly referencea particular syntax, format and/or approach used, for example, withrespect to a set of associated memory states and/or a set of associatedphysical signals. If a particular type of file storage format and/orsyntax, for example, is intended, it is referenced expressly. It isfurther noted an association of memory states, for example, may be in alogical sense and not necessarily in a tangible, physical sense. Thus,although signal and/or state components of a file and/or an electronicdocument, for example, are to be associated logically, storage thereof,for example, may reside in one or more different places in a tangible,physical memory, in an embodiment.

A Hyper Text Markup Language (“HTML”), for example, may be utilized tospecify digital content and/or to specify a format thereof, such as inthe form of an electronic file and/or an electronic document, such as aWeb page, Web site, etc., for example. An Extensible Markup Language(“XML”) may also be utilized to specify digital content and/or tospecify a format thereof, such as in the form of an electronic fileand/or an electronic document, such as a Web page. Web site, etc., in anembodiment. Of course, HTML and/or XML are merely examples of “markup”languages, provided as non-limiting illustrations. Furthermore. HTMLand/or XML are intended to refer to any version, now known and/or to belater developed, of these languages. Likewise, claimed subject matterare not intended to be limited to examples provided as illustrations, ofcourse.

In the context of the present disclosure, the term “Web site” and orsimilar terms refer to Web pages that are associated electronically toform a particular collection thereof. Also, in the context of thepresent disclosure. “Web page” and/or similar terms refer to anelectronic file and/or an electronic document accessible via a network,including by specifying a uniform resource locator (URL) foraccessibility via the Web, in an example embodiment. As alluded toabove, in one or more embodiments, a Web page may comprise digitalcontent coded (e.g., via computer instructions) using one or morelanguages, such as, for example, markup languages, including HTML and/orXML, although claimed subject matter is not limited in scope in thisrespect. Also, in one or more embodiments, application developers maywrite code (e.g., computer instructions) in the form of JavaScript (orother programming languages), for example, executable by a computingdevice to provide digital content to populate an electronic documentand/or an electronic file in an appropriate format, such as for use in aparticular application, for example. Use of the term “JavaScript” and/orsimilar terms intended to refer to one or more particular programminglanguages are intended to refer to any version of the one or moreprogramming languages identified, now known and/or to be laterdeveloped. Thus, JavaScript is merely an example programming language.As was mentioned, claimed subject matter is not intended to be limitedto examples and/or illustrations.

As was indicated, in the context of the present disclosure, the terms“entry,” “electronic entry,” “document.” “electronic document,”“content,”, “digital content,” “item.” and/or similar terms are meant torefer to signals and/or states in a physical format, such as a digitalsignal and/or digital state format, e.g., that may be perceived by auser if displayed, played, tactilely generated, etc. and/or otherwiseexecuted by a device, such as a digital device, including, for example,a computing device, but otherwise might not necessarily be readilyperceivable by humans (e.g., if in a digital format). Likewise, in thecontext of the present disclosure, digital content provided to a user ina form so that the user is able to readily perceive the underlyingcontent itself (e.g., content presented in a form consumable by a human,such as hearing audio, feeling tactile sensations and/or seeing images,as examples) is referred to, with respect to the user, as “consuming”digital content, “consumption” of digital content, “consumable” digitalcontent and/or similar terms. For one or more embodiments, an electronicdocument and or an electronic file may comprise a Web page of code(e.g., computer instructions) in a markup language executed or to beexecuted by a computing and/or networking device, for example. Inanother embodiment, an electronic document and/or electronic file maycomprise a portion and/or a region of a Web page. However, claimedsubject matter is not intended to be limited in these respects.

Also, for one or more embodiments, an electronic document and/orelectronic file may comprise a number of components. As previouslyindicated, in the context of the present disclosure, a component isphysical, but is not necessarily tangible. As an example, componentswith reference to an electronic document and/or electronic file, in oneor more embodiments, may comprise text, for example, in the form ofphysical signals and/or physical states (e.g., capable of beingphysically displayed and/or maintained as a memory state in a tangiblememory). Typically, memory states, for example, comprise tangiblecomponents, whereas physical signals are not necessarily tangible,although signals may become (e.g., be made) tangible, such as ifappearing on a tangible display, for example, as is not uncommon. Also,for one or more embodiments, components with reference to an electronicdocument and/or electronic file may comprise a graphical object, suchas, for example, an image, such as a digital image, and/or sub-objects,including attributes thereof, which, again, comprise physical signalsand/or physical states (e.g., capable of being tangibly displayed and/ormaintained as a memory state in a tangible memory). In an embodiment,digital content may comprise, for example, text, images, audio, video,haptic content and/or other types of electronic documents and/orelectronic files, including portions thereof, for example.

Also, in the context of the present disclosure, the term parameters(e.g., one or more parameters) refer to material descriptive of acollection of signal samples, such as one or more electronic documentsand/or electronic files, and exist in the form of physical signalsand/or physical states, such as memory states. For example, one or moreparameters, such as referring to an electronic document and/or anelectronic file comprising an image, may include, as examples, time ofday at which an image was captured, latitude and longitude of an imagecapture device, such as a camera, for example, etc. In another example,one or more parameters relevant to digital content, such as digitalcontent comprising a technical article, as an example, may include oneor more authors, for example, Claimed subject matter is intended toembrace meaningful, descriptive parameters in any format, so long as theone or more parameters comprise physical signals and/or states, whichmay include, as parameter examples, collection name (e.g., electronicfile and/or electronic document identifier name), technique of creation,purpose of creation, time and date of creation, logical path if stored,coding formats (e.g., type of computer instructions, such as a markuplanguage) and/or standards and/or specifications used so as to beprotocol compliant (e.g., meaning substantially compliant and/orsubstantially compatible) for one or more uses, and so forth.

Signal packet communications and/or signal frame communications, alsoreferred to as signal packet transmissions and/or signal frametransmissions (or merely “signal packets” or “signal frames”), may becommunicated between nodes of a network, where a node may comprise oneor more network devices and/or one or more computing devices, forexample. As an illustrative example, but without limitation, a node maycomprise one or more sites employing a local network address, such as ina local network address space. Likewise, a device, such as a networkdevice and/or a computing device, may be associated with that node. Itis also noted that in the context of this disclosure, the term“transmission” is intended as another term for a type of signalcommunication that may occur in any one of a variety of situations.Thus, it is not intended to imply a particular directionality ofcommunication and/or a particular initiating end of a communication pathfor the “transmission” communication. For example, the mere use of theterm in and of itself is not intended, in the context of the presentdisclosure, to have particular implications with respect to the one ormore signals being communicated, such as, for example, whether thesignals are being communicated “to” a particular device, whether thesignals are being communicated “from” a particular device, and/orregarding which end of a communication path may be initiatingcommunication, such as, for example, in a “push type” of signal transferor in a “pull type” of signal transfer. In the context of the presentdisclosure, push and/or pull type signal transfers are distinguished bywhich end of a communications path initiates signal transfer.

Thus, a signal packet and/or frame may, as an example, be communicatedvia a communication channel and/or a communication path, such ascomprising a portion of the Internet and/or the Web, from a site via anaccess node coupled to the Internet or vice-versa. Likewise, a signalpacket and/or frame may be forwarded via network nodes to a target sitecoupled to a local network, for example. A signal packet and/or framecommunicated via the Internet and/or the Web, for example, may be routedvia a path, such as either being “pushed” or “pulled,” comprising one ormore gateways, servers, etc. that may, for example, route a signalpacket and/or frame, such as, for example, substantially in accordancewith a target and/or destination address and availability of a networkpath of network nodes to the target and/or destination address. Althoughthe Internet and/or the Web comprise a network of interoperablenetworks, not all of those interoperable networks are necessarilyavailable and/or accessible to the public.

In the context of the particular disclosure, a network protocol, such asfor communicating between devices of a network, may be characterized, atleast in part, substantially in accordance with a layered description,such as the so-called Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) seven layertype of approach and/or description. A network computing and/orcommunications protocol (also referred to as a network protocol) refersto a set of signaling conventions, such as for communicationtransmissions, for example, as may take place between and/or amongdevices in a network. In the context of the present disclosure, the term“between” and/or similar terms are understood to include “among” ifappropriate for the particular usage and vice-versa. Likewise, in thecontext of the present disclosure, the terms “compatible with,” “complywith” and/or similar terms are understood to respectively includesubstantial compatibility and/or substantial compliance.

A network protocol, such as protocols characterized substantially inaccordance with the aforementioned OSI description, has several layers.These layers are referred to as a network stack. Various types ofcommunications (e.g., transmissions), such as network communications,may occur across various layers. A lowest level layer in a networkstack, such as the so-called physical layer, may characterize howsymbols (e.g., bits and/or bytes) are communicated as one or moresignals (and/or signal samples) via a physical medium (e.g., twistedpair copper wire, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, wireless airinterface, combinations thereof, etc.). Progressing to higher-levellayers in a network protocol stack, additional operations and/orfeatures may be available via engaging in communications that aresubstantially compatible and/or substantially compliant with aparticular network protocol at these higher-level layers. For example,higher-level layers of a network protocol may, for example, affectdevice permissions, user permissions, etc.

A network and/or sub-network, in an embodiment, may communicate viasignal packets and/or signal frames, such via participating digitaldevices and may be substantially compliant and/or substantiallycompatible with, but is not limited to, now known and/or to bedeveloped, versions of any of the following network protocol stacks:ARCNET, AppleTalk, ATM, Bluetooth, DECnet, Ethernet, FDDI, Frame Relay,HIPPI, IEEE 1394, IEEE 802.11, IEEE-488, Internet Protocol Suite, IPX,Myrinet, OSI Protocol Suite, QsNet, RS-232, SPX, System NetworkArchitecture, Token Ring, USB, and/or X.25. A network and/or sub-networkmay employ, for example, a version, now known and/or later to bedeveloped, of the following: TCP/IP, UDP, DECnet, NetBEUI, IPX,AppleTalk and/or the like. Versions of the Internet Protocol (IP) mayinclude IPv4, IPv6, and/or other later to be developed versions.

Regarding aspects related to a network, including a communicationsand/or computing network, a wireless network may couple devices,including client devices, with the network. A wireless network mayemploy stand-alone, ad-hoc networks, mesh networks, Wireless LAN (WLAN)networks, cellular networks, and/or the like. A wireless network mayfurther include a system of terminals, gateways, routers, and/or thelike coupled by wireless radio links, and/or the like, which may movefreely, randomly and/or organize themselves arbitrarily, such thatnetwork topology may change, at times even rapidly. A wireless networkmay further employ a plurality of network access technologies, includinga version of Long Term Evolution (LTE), WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh,2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th generation (2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G) cellular technologyand/or the like, whether currently known and/or to be later developed.Network access technologies may enable wide area coverage for devices,such as computing devices and/or network devices, with varying degreesof mobility, for example.

A network may enable radio frequency and/or other wireless typecommunications via a wireless network access technology and/or airinterface, such as Global System for Mobile communication (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), General Packet RadioServices (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), 3GPP Long TermEvolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA), Bluetooth, ultra-wideband (UWB), IEEE 802.11 (including, butnot limited to, IEEE 802.11b/g/n), and/or the like. A wireless networkmay include virtually any type of now known and/or to be developedwireless communication mechanism and/or wireless communications protocolby which signals may be communicated between devices, between networks,within a network, and/or the like, including the foregoing, of course.

In one example embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 , a system embodiment maycomprise a local network (e.g., a second device 704 and acomputer-readable medium 740) and/or another type of network, such as acomputing and/or communications network. For purposes of illustration,therefore, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment 700 of a system that may beemployed to implement either type or both types of networks, such as inconnection with one or more operations and/or techniques for anelectronically connected environment. Network 708 may comprise one ormore network connections, links, processes, services, applications,and/or resources to facilitate and/or support communications, such as anexchange of communication signals, for example, between a computingdevice, such as 702, and another computing device, such as 706, whichmay, for example, comprise one or more client computing devices and/orone or more server computing device. By way of example, but notlimitation, network 708 may comprise wireless and/or wired communicationlinks, telephone and/or telecommunications systems, Wi-Fi networks,Wi-MAX networks, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide areanetwork (WAN), or any combinations thereof.

Example devices in FIG. 7 may comprise features, for example, of aclient computing device and/or a server computing device, in anembodiment. It is further noted that the term computing device, ingeneral, whether employed as a client and or as a server, or otherwise,refers at least to a processor and a memory connected by a communicationbus. Likewise, in the context of the present disclosure at least, thisis understood to refer to sufficient structure within the meaning of 35§ USC 112(f) so that it is specifically intended that 35 § USC 112(f)not be implicated by use of the term “computing device” and/or similarterms; however, if it is determined, for some reason not immediatelyapparent, that the foregoing understanding cannot stand and that 35 §USC 112(f) therefore, necessarily is implicated by the use of the term“computing device” and/or similar terms, then, it is intended, pursuantto that statutory section, that corresponding structure, material and/oracts for performing one or more functions be understood and beinterpreted to be described at least in FIGS. 1, 2 , and/or 7 of thepresent disclosure.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7 , in an embodiment, first and thirddevices 702 and 706 may be capable of rendering a graphical userinterface (GUI) for a network device and/or a computing device, forexample, so that a user-operator may engage in system use. Device 704may potentially serve a similar function in this illustration. Likewise,in FIG. 7 , computing device 702 (‘first device’ in figure) mayinterface with computing device 704 (‘second device’ in figure), whichmay, for example, also comprise features of a client computing deviceand/or a server computing device, in an embodiment. Processor (e.g.,processing device) 720 and memory 722, which may comprise primary memory724 and secondary memory 726, may communicate by way of a communicationbus 715, for example. The term “computing device,” in the context of thepresent disclosure, refers to a system and/or a device, such as acomputing apparatus, that includes a capability to process (e.g.,perform computations) and/or store digital content, such as electronicfiles, electronic documents, measurements, text, images, video, audio,etc. in the form of signals and/or states. Thus, a computing device, inthe context of the present disclosure, may comprise hardware, software,firmware, or any combination thereof (other than software per se).Computing device 704, as depicted in FIG. 7 , is merely one example, andclaimed subject matter is not limited in scope to this particularexample.

For one or more embodiments, a computing device may comprise, forexample, any of a wide range of digital electronic devices, including,but not limited to, desktop and/or notebook computers, high-definitiontelevisions, digital versatile disc (DVD) and/or other optical discplayers and/or recorders, game consoles, satellite television receivers,cellular telephones, tablet devices, wearable devices, personal digitalassistants, mobile audio and/or video playback and/or recording devices,or any combination of the foregoing. Further, unless specifically statedotherwise, a process as described, such as with reference to flowdiagrams and/or otherwise, may also be executed and/or affected, inwhole or in part, by a computing device and/or a network de % ice. Adevice, such as a computing device and/or network device, may vary interms of capabilities and/or features. Claimed subject matter isintended to cover a wide range of potential variations. For example, adevice may include a numeric keypad and/or other display of limitedfunctionality, such as a monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD) fordisplaying text, for example. In contrast, however, as another example,a web-enabled device may include a physical and/or a virtual keyboard,mass storage, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, globalpositioning system (GPS) and/or other location-identifying typecapability, and/or a display with a higher degree of functionality, suchas a touch-sensitive color 2D or 3D display, for example.

As suggested previously, communications between a computing deviceand/or a network device and a wireless network may be in accordance withknown and/or to be developed network protocols including, for example,global system for mobile communications (GSM), enhanced data rate forGSM evolution (EDGE), 802.11b/g/n/h, etc., and/or worldwideinteroperability for microwave access (WiMAX). A computing device and/ora networking device may also have a subscriber identity module (SIM)card, which, for example, may comprise a detachable or embedded smartcard that is able to store subscription content of a user, and/or isalso able to store a contact list. As also discussed, a computing deviceand/or a networking device may also have other identities. A user mayown the computing device and/or network device or may otherwise be auser, such as a primary user, for example. A device may be assigned anaddress by a wireless network operator, a wired network operator, and/oran Internet Service Provider (ISP). For example, an address may comprisea domestic or international telephone number, an Internet Protocol (IP)address, and/or one or more other identifiers. In other embodiments, acomputing and/or communications network may be embodied as a wirednetwork, wireless network, or any combinations thereof.

A computing and/or network device may include and/or may execute avariety of now known and/or to be developed operating systems,derivatives and/or versions thereof, including computer operatingsystems, such as Windows, iOS, Linux, a mobile operating system, such asiOS, Android. Windows Mobile, and/or the like. A computing device and/ornetwork device may include and/or may execute a variety of possibleapplications, such as a client software application enablingcommunication with other devices. For example, one or more messages(e.g., content) may be communicated, such as via one or more protocols,now known and/or later to be developed, suitable for communication ofemail, short message service (SMS), and/or multimedia message service(MMS), including via a network, such as a social network, formed atleast in part by a portion of a computing and/or communications network,including, but not limited to, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr,and/or Google+, to provide only a few examples. A computing and/ornetwork device may also include executable computer instructions toprocess and/or communicate digital content, such as, for example,textual content, digital multimedia content, and/or the like. Acomputing and/or network device may also include executable computerinstructions to perform a variety of possible tasks, such as browsing,searching, playing various forms of digital content, including locallystored and/or streamed video, and/or games such as, but not limited to,fantasy sports leagues. The foregoing is provided merely to illustratethat claimed subject matter is intended to include a wide range ofpossible features and/or capabilities.

In FIG. 7 , computing device 702 may provide one or more sources ofexecutable computer instructions in the form physical states and/orsignals (e.g., stored in memory states), for example. Computing device702 may communicate with computing device 704 by way of a networkconnection, such as via network 708, for example. As previouslymentioned, a connection, while physical, may not necessarily betangible. Although computing device 704 of FIG. 7 shows varioustangible, physical components, claimed subject matter is not limited tocomputing devices having only these tangible components as otherimplementations and/or embodiments may include alternative arrangementsthat may comprise additional tangible components or fewer tangiblecomponents, for example, that function differently while achievingsimilar results. Rather, examples are provided merely as illustrations.It is not intended that claimed subject matter be limited in scope toillustrative examples.

Memory 722 may comprise any non-transitory storage mechanism. Memory 722may comprise, for example, primary memory 724 and secondary memory 726,additional memory circuits, mechanisms, or combinations thereof may beused. Memory 722 may comprise, for example, random access memory, readonly memory, etc., such as in the form of one or more storage devicesand/or systems, such as, for example, a disk drive including an opticaldisc drive, a tape drive, a solid-state memory drive, etc., just to namea few examples.

Memory 722 may be utilized to store a program of executable computerinstructions. For example, processor 720 may fetch executableinstructions from memory and proceed to execute the fetchedinstructions. Memory 722 may also comprise a memory controller foraccessing device readable-medium 740 that may carry and/or makeaccessible digital content, which may include code, and/or instructions,for example, executable by processor 720 and/or some other device, suchas a controller, as one example, capable of executing computerinstructions, for example. Under direction of processor 720, anon-transitory memory, such as memory cells storing physical states(e.g., memory states), comprising, for example, a program of executablecomputer instructions, may be executed by processor 720 and able togenerate signals to be communicated via a network, for example, aspreviously described.

Memory 722 may store electronic files and/or electronic documents, suchas relating to one or more users, and may also comprise adevice-readable medium that may carry and/or make accessible content,including code and/or instructions, for example, executable by processor720 and/or some other device, such as a controller, as one example,capable of executing computer instructions, for example. As previouslymentioned, the term electronic file and/or the term electronic documentare used throughout this document to refer to a set of stored memorystates and/or a set of physical signals associated in a manner so as tothereby form an electronic file and/or an electronic document. That is,it is not meant to implicitly reference a particular syntax, formatand/or approach used, for example, with respect to a set of associatedmemory states and/or a set of associated physical signals. It is furthernoted an association of memory states, for example, may be in a logicalsense and not necessarily in a tangible, physical sense. Thus, althoughsignal and/or state components of an electronic file and/or electronicdocument, are to be associated logically, storage thereof, for example,may reside in one or more different places in a tangible, physicalmemory, in an embodiment.

Algorithmic descriptions and/or symbolic representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the signal processingand/or related arts to convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. An algorithm is, in the context of the presentdisclosure, and generally, is considered to be a self-consistentsequence of operations and/or similar signal processing leading to adesired result. In the context of the present disclosure, operationsand/or processing involve physical manipulation of physical quantities.Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities may take the formof electrical and/or magnetic signals and/or states capable of beingstored, transferred, combined, compared, processed and/or otherwisemanipulated, for example, as electronic signals and/or states making upcomponents of various forms of digital content, such as signalmeasurements, text, images, video, audio, etc.

It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of commonusage, to refer to such physical signals and/or physical states as bits,values, elements, parameters, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,numerals, measurements, content and/or the like. It should beunderstood, however, that all of these and/or similar terms are to beassociated with appropriate physical quantities and are merelyconvenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparentfrom the preceding discussion, it is appreciated that throughout thisspecification discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining”, “establishing”, “obtaining”,“identifying”, “selecting”, “generating”, and/or the like may refer toactions and/or processes of a specific apparatus, such as a specialpurpose computer and/or a similar special purpose computing and/ornetwork device. In the context of this specification, therefore, aspecial purpose computer and/or a similar special purpose computingand/or network device is capable of processing, manipulating and/ortransforming signals and/or states, typically in the form of physicalelectronic and/or magnetic quantities, within memories, registers,and/or other storage devices, processing devices, and/or display devicesof the special purpose computer and/or similar special purpose computingand/or network device. In the context of this particular disclosure, asmentioned, the term “specific apparatus” therefore includes a generalpurpose computing and/or network device, such as a general purposecomputer, once it is programmed to perform particular functions, such aspursuant to program software instructions.

In some circumstances, operation of a memory device, such as a change instate from a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versa, for example, maycomprise a transformation, such as a physical transformation. Withparticular types of memory devices, such a physical transformation maycomprise a physical transformation of an article to a different state orthing. For example, but without limitation, for some types of memorydevices, a change in state may involve an accumulation and/or storage ofcharge or a release of stored charge. Likewise, in other memory devices,a change of state may comprise a physical change, such as atransformation in magnetic orientation. Likewise, a physical change maycomprise a transformation in molecular structure, such as fromcrystalline form to amorphous form or vice-versa. In still other memorydevices, a change in physical state may involve quantum mechanicalphenomena, such as, superposition, entanglement, and/or the like, whichmay involve quantum bits (qubits), for example. The foregoing is notintended to be an exhaustive list of all examples in which a change instate from a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versa in a memorydevice may comprise a transformation, such as a physical, butnon-transitory, transformation. Rather, the foregoing is intended asillustrative examples.

Continuing with FIG. 7 , processor 720 may comprise one or morecircuits, such as digital circuits, to perform at least a portion of acomputing procedure and/or process. By way of example, but notlimitation, processor 720 may comprise one or more processors, such ascontrollers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specificintegrated circuits, digital signal processors, programmable logicdevices, field programmable gate arrays, the like, or any combinationthereof. In various implementations and/or embodiments, processor 720may perform signal processing, typically substantially in accordancewith fetched executable computer instructions, such as to manipulatesignals and/or states, to construct signals and/or states, etc., withsignals and/or states generated in such a manner to be communicatedand/or stored in memory, for example.

FIG. 7 also illustrates device 704 as including a component 732 operablewith input/output devices, for example, so that signals and/or statesmay be appropriately communicated between devices, such as device 704and an input device and/or device 704 and an output device. A user maymake use of an input device, such as a computer mouse, stylus, trackball, keyboard, and/or any other similar device capable of receivinguser actions and/or motions as input signals. Likewise, a user may makeuse of an output device, such as a display, a printer, etc., and/or anyother device capable of providing signals and/or generating stimuli fora user, such as visual stimuli, audio stimuli and/or other similarstimuli.

In the preceding description, various aspects of claimed subject matterhave been described. For purposes of explanation, specifics, such asamounts, systems and/or configurations, as examples, were set forth. Inother instances, well-known features were omitted and/or simplified soas not to obscure claimed subject matter. While certain features havebeen illustrated and/or described herein, many modifications,substitutions, changes and/or equivalents will now occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all modifications and/or changes as fallwithin claimed subject matter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A networked product-display systemcomprising: a first communications network; multiple wireless nodes thatdisplay one or more products, communicate through the firstcommunications network with an aggregator entity, and send eventinformation to the aggregator entity; and multiple computationalentities that communicate through a second communications network, theaggregator entity using the event information, a planogram of displaylocations within a retail establishment, and accesses informationprovided by the multiple component entities to control theproduct-display system, generate security alarms, control display ofproducts, monitor displayed products, and transfer information to aglobal-view entity for provision to remote organizations and entities.2. The networked product-display system of claim 1, wherein the wirelessnodes include one or more of lock nodes, security nodes, device nodes,camera nodes, power nodes, and audio-video controller nodes.
 3. Thenetworked product-display system of claim 1, wherein the global-viewentity provides reports and information to external organizations,including product manufacturers and vendors, the reports and informationincluding: historical operational information for the displayedproducts; real-time operational information for the displayed products;product-display attributes of the displayed products, includingstatistical information with respect to numbers and/or frequencies ofconsumer access to the displayed products; and product-locationinformation, including the display locations of the products.
 4. Thenetworked product-display system of claim 1, wherein the aggregatorentity facilitates communications between the wireless nodes;facilitates communication between the wireless nodes and computationalentities; generates security alarms; collects and provides, to adatabase entity for storage, operational information for the displayedproducts; product-display attributes of the displayed products,including statistical information with respect to numbers and/orfrequencies of consumer access to the displayed products, identifiersfor the displayed products and the wireless nodes, status informationfor the products and the wireless nodes, security information, and userinformation; controls operation of the wireless nodes; and provides amanagement interface to management personnel.
 5. The networkedproduct-display system of claim 4, wherein the aggregator entityprovides, through the management interface, optimization facilities forredistributing the displayed products among the wireless nodes in orderto optimize consumer access to the displayed products, product sales,and other optimization criteria.
 6. The networked product-display systemof claim 4, wherein the aggregator entity provides, through themanagement interface, configuration interfaces through which managementpersonnel configure the wireless nodes and access to the wireless nodes.7. The networked product-display system of claim 4, wherein wherein theaggregator entity provides, through the management interface,user-registration interfaces.